Taking learning through to 2038
In the first Scottish curriculum overhaul since 2009, Education Scotland is leading the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) in Scotland review.
The engineering and technology sectors underpin major national ambitions, including driving economic growth and improving sustainability. Scotland’s curriculum reform provides a significant opportunity to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence to thrive in these evolving sectors.
To highlight engineering and technology perspectives and considerations in the review, we co-hosted a roundtable with Education Scotland in December 2025. The roundtable brought together 11 employers spanning Scotland’s engineering and technology sectors including energy, infrastructure, construction and critical technologies.
The discussions covered 3 areas:
- priority knowledge and skills – defining the essential science skills and knowledge for success in engineering and technology careers
- building a future-oriented sciences curriculum – making sure the sciences curriculum reflects emerging technologies and real-world engineering challenges
- industry’s role in the curriculum – exploring how employers can support educators to engage students, and link the curriculum to post-education careers
The roundtable generated industry insights and provided practical recommendations. Key themes include:
- prioritise transferable and meta skills alongside technical knowledge to support adaptable future engineers
- increase the visibility of engineering in the sciences by introducing engineering terminology, concepts and real examples linked to national priorities
- embed equity into curriculum design, ensuring consistent and high-quality STEM opportunities for all learners
- keep the curriculum agile and responsive to emerging technologies and real-word contexts through ongoing industry input
- establish a nationally coordinated approach to industry‑supported STEM resources and engagement, using data to target support and ensure consistent access for all schools
Our Policy and Public Affairs team, who organised the discussion, today published a briefing covering the findings and recommendations from the roundtable. 'Shaping Scotland’s sciences curriculum: preparing young people for future careers in engineering and technology' brings together the golden opportunities for equipping young people with the skills the curriculum review affords.
Many of the themes raised echo the evidence and recommendations that EngineeringUK submitted to England’s Curriculum and Assessment Review. With both nations undertaking significant curriculum reform, there is a valuable opportunity to share evidence and approaches.
