Excellence In Education
This January, George Heriot’s School is undergoing an ambitious, whole-school curriculum review, building on its commitment to knowledge rich, subject specialist teaching and the high attainment that follows, to ensure pupils are prepared for our dynamic future. The School has recently launched its Strategic Ambition 2025-2030 and the following outlines the specific academic focus within this.
George Heriot’s curriculum development is a process of thoughtful evolution, ensuring the School critiques and adapts new educational thinking while staying true to its core values. The rise of artificial intelligence, changes in the skills and aptitudes that employers value, and the shifting economic landscape mean that incremental change is no longer enough: an education step change is needed.
The development of Heriot’s curriculum is focussed on three core areas:
Pupil Agency: pupils will have greater autonomy and input into their learning, continuing to develop independent thinking and the confidence to shape their educational journey. Pupil Agency builds upon Heriot’s established programmes of Learning Enhancement, Critical Thinking and Philosophy, taught through a progressive framework which focuses on Inquiry-based and Project-Based learning. The new Extended Project qualifications (EPQs) offered by Heriot’s will enable pupils to pursue distinct areas of interest via externally-accredited courses.
Skills: Heriot’s is developing a Meta-Skills Framework, anchored in the existing 5C’s model (curious, collaborative, creative, caring, critical thinkers). This framework will underpin a whole school pathway from Nursery to S6, equipping pupils with essential skills such as adaptability, critical thinking, problem-solving and resilience, in preparation for the evolving world. High order skills such as research, analysis and evaluation will be rooted in an academic and transferable skills matrix, enabling pupils to recognise progression and apply these skills across challenging contexts.
Digital Capability: Heriot’s aims to give pupils the necessary skills to thrive in a digital world, balanced with the wisdom to know when technology can enhance life and when it can become a barrier to progress, safety or wellbeing. We will ensure that pupils are proficient in digital skills and able to engage critically with evolving technologies – including AI – to navigate the digital future with confidence and discernment. Proficiency in digital technology and usage will cover opportunities, risks, ethical implications, AI tools, data management, online safety and capability. Pupils will learn to consider carefully how, when and if to use digital solutions to complete tasks and solve problems.
Heriot’s curriculum development will continue apace; further information will be issued in due course.