Film and TV to be taught in Scotland’s schools in landmark UK move

Film and screen is becoming part of the national curriculum for  schoolchildren in Scotland.

All pupils across Scotland aged from three to 18, will have the opportunity to study film and screen as a practical arts subject, as it becomes part of the national curriculum.

It is believed to be the first time any nation or country in the world has introduced film and screen studies across every level of formal education for under-18s, said Screen Scotland. 

Some 6,000 children have been involved over three years as the organisation has devised, designed and delivered a programme to test and evaluate the film and screen curriculum to match every level of formal Scottish education. 

“Screen Scotland’s film and screen curriculum creates democracy of opportunity for every child and young person to learn about the film and screen industries in Scotland, to understand how it works and most importantly to recognise that they can be part of it,” said Fi Milligan- Rennie, head of education-screen at Screen Scotland. 

Although one of the UK’s four nations, Scotland has an education system that is devolved from the UK’s central government in Westminster, which means overall policy and regulations are set by the Scottish government.

Scottish acting and filmmaking talent including James McAvoy, Lucy Halliday, Mark Bonnar, Mark Cousins, Dougray Scott and Lauren Lyle have endorsed the curriculum.

“Teaching film and screen in schools is the most equitable way to engage in an art form, while demystifying something that can seem distant or inaccessible,” said Glasgow-born McAvoy. “It’s not just about the next generations of Scottish filmmakers, it’s about understanding the creative right to be seen and heard and making the space and time for that to happen, for every child in Scotland.” 

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