7 October 2025: A new report written by Professors Chris Chapman and Graham Donaldson calls for immediate action to ‘future proof’ Scottish education, warning it is facing unprecedented challenges that could affect children’s futures.

In their latest paper, Professor Chris Chapman and Professor Graham Donaldson argue that Scotland needs to simplify its approach to teaching, to give greater clarity about how we educate our children and young people in an increasingly complex world.

The report, Where next for Scottish Education: Creating tomorrow's education for today, says the ‘social contract’ between families and schools is broken. It says school is becoming optional for some families, writing that in January 2025, STV reported 180,000 pupils missed a day of schooling every two weeks and a further 71,852 missed a day of school a week.

It outlines seven steps that could create a more dynamic approach to policymaking and bridge the gap with the classroom and the learning and wellbeing of young people. 

These steps include the need for rigorous and imaginative thinking about how generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) can enhance learning and teaching, while being realistic about its limitations and dangers. It also includes the need to bring decision-making closer to the realities of the classroom, so more focus will be on the needs of young people and the specifics of learning and teaching.

Professor Chris Chapman, Chair in Educational Policy and Practice (Educational Leadership & Policy) at the University of Glasgow and Senior Fellow at the Centre for Public Policy, said:

“We wrote - and are sharing - this paper in the spirit of productivity and collaboration. Central to our research has always been the argument that putting professionals at the heart of decision-making will better meet the needs of children and young people from all backgrounds. Achieving the right balance between local responsibility and the need to make sure what is taught and learned is high quality is vital for keeping Scotland’s young people fit for the future, its society healthy and its economy strong.

“Ultimately, it is our hope that those with the influence and power to reimagine tomorrow’s education system will not shy away from being brave, creative and collaborative in setting a compelling agenda. We owe it to our young people to provide a school experience that takes into account the reality of their lives today and in the future.”

The report also recommends harnessing the potential of the university sector, citing the newly launched Centre for Teaching Excellence at the University of Glasgow, which has the potential to generate ideas, expertise and energy needed to motivate the profession.

'Creating tomorrow’s education for today' is the latest in a series by Professors Chapman and Donaldson on education reform in Scotland.

The previous two reports are available here:

Read the report - Creating tomorrow's education for today

Where next for Scottish Education: Creating tomorrow's education for today

First published: 7 October 2025

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