Frequently Asked Questions

Select a question from the list below to jump down to the answer.

1. What is the Schools of Ambition Programme? 

The programme supports schools to transform educational outcomes for young people. It aims to raise the ambitions of schools, instil belief and ambition in pupils, extend their opportunities and transform their life chances.

The Scottish Government with the support of others is committed to achieving improvements in education, backing great ideas from schools to help them transform the experience of their pupils.

Schools of Ambition aim to stand out in their locality, and nationally, as innovators and leaders, providing ambition and opportunity for young people, setting an example to the whole community of what is possible in modern Scotland, helping shape the ambitions of an ever more successful Scotland of the 21st century.

2. Which schools have qualified? 

The key to joining the programme was the ambition and commitment of the school and the quality of its ideas for transformation. Schools of Ambition were ready to take on new challenges and generate an ethos of ambition, a 'can do' attitude and a buzz and excitement in the life of the school.

They were ready to drive innovation and change in Scottish education for the good of all. A specific assessment of the leadership capacity of the school was an element of the bidding process.

The main focus of the programme is secondary schools, which applied individually or as a cluster with associated primary and special schools. These include a mix of schools: schools most in need of transformation - very often those dealing with the most challenging local circumstances in Scotland - and schools that had strong ideas for transformation and could set new standards of excellence.

3. How were the schools selected? 

Schools wishing to participate in the programme were invited through their local authority to submit a brief statement of how the school would benefit from access to the programme. This covered:

• Vision for transformational change
• Impact on the school community
• Actions to drive transformation.

Submissions were followed up by visits to each school to discuss plans for transformation in more detail with staff, pupils and Directors of Education.

The Advisory Group considered bids made by schools and the supplementary evidence gathered during the visits and made recommendations to Ministers, who took the final decision on which schools would be invited to join the programme.

4. What sort of ideas are being supported? 

The best ideas are generated by schools, who know their own circumstances and know what they can do with extra support to make a real difference. Each school is different and will have a unique path to transformation and improvement. Examples include:

• Leadership development for staff and pupils
• Investment in school infrastructure to improve the environment for learning and to support new ways of learning and teaching or new curricular opportunities
• Enhancement of curricular areas such as music, drama, sport, language or enterprise
• Strengthening aspects of the life of the school that develop pupil engagement, such as community involvement, action on sustainability and linking with schools in other parts of the world
• Developing and strengthening pupil support programmes through new ways of working and through provision of extra opportunities for pupils such as out of school residential opportunities
• Actions to strengthen parental involvement and support for learning
• Programmes to build health improvement for pupils and the wider community
• Action to build on and develop existing employer engagement.

Support was provided to the schools by the Scottish Government, and the local authority, to develop initial ideas into plans that had to be truly transformational in terms of outcomes for young people.

Headteachers can use new flexibilities in the curriculum, for example, to move ahead with their transformational plans under the full scope of devolved school management. Each school was expected to emphasise leadership and responsibility by all in the school - staff and pupils - as a key to success. Headteachers were also expected to engage staff fully in the development and implementation of the plan.

5. Are the schools 'specialist schools'?

The schools are non-specialist and serve their local communities. They often build a particular expertise in at least one area of the curriculum.

6. Who else is supporting Schools of Ambition?

Schools of Ambition are expected to engage with their local communities - parents, voluntary organisations, other professions, local sporting figures, artists and performers, and local businesses - as part of their plans.

The Scottish Government has also sought the engagement of business partners who may bring their success, drive and, potentially, financial contribution to add value and extra dimension to the transformational plan. They have been invited to help the school achieve more, bring drive, support, encouragement, advice, constructive challenge and mentoring. They are expected to be closely engaged with the work of the school and its plan for transformation, and in celebrating the school's success.

7. How much funding does each school have and for how long?

The Scottish Government provides at least an additional £100,000 per year for an agreed three-year period. Business partners of the school may offer additional support that allows the school to add value and gives them extra options to transform the life of the school.

8. How many schools have qualified?

There are 52 schools currently involved on the programme.

9. Who is advising on the programme?

An Advisory Group was involved in the assessment of bids. It provides support to schools on the programme and for sharing learning across Scottish education. Members of the group are:

• Liz Lewis (Chair), Scottish Government, Schools Director
• Christine Pollock, Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES) 
• Mark Adams (currently represented by Steven Grier), Microsoft
• Bernard McLeary, Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) 
• Douglas Mackie, Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) 
• Graham Donaldson, HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) 
• Anne Marie Fagan, Retired Headteacher
• Robert Nicol, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
• Michael Cross, Scottish Government, Determined to Succeed

10. How does the wider school system benefit?

The programme sets new standards of excellence.

Schools of Ambition are measuring their own progress and drawing out the learning from their experiences. These experiences and learning are being shared more widely: this dovetails with other work that supports innovation in schools and celebrates success.

11. How are Schools of Ambition measuring progress?

As part of the planning process, schools have set individual targets for their transformational plans. They are monitoring their progress through self-evaluation and reporting regularly on performance against their targets. Schools of Ambition are also involved in an action research project.

12. How can I keep in touch with what schools are doing?

The Schools of Ambition website provides details of schools on the programme together with further information and resources. It will also share progress and learning as schools take forward their transformational plans.