School Estate Management

Learning Estate Strategy

Scotland’s Learning Estate Strategy was published by the Scottish Government in 2019. Its guiding principles provide a platform for investment in the learning estate across Scotland and set out a strategic approach for managing the learning estate.

The stated aim of the Strategy is to improve the outcomes for all learners and enable sustainable and inclusive economic growth by placing the whole learning estate at the heart of meeting the needs of Scotland’s communities, learners and businesses and adopting a more integrated approach.

The Learning Estate Strategy Guiding Principles are:

• learning environments should support and facilitate excellent joined up learning and teaching to meet the needs of all learners
• learning environments should support the wellbeing of all learners, meet varying needs to support inclusion and support transitions for all learners
• the learning estate should be well-managed and maintained, making the best of existing resources, maximising occupancy, and representing and delivering best value
• the condition and suitability of learning environments should support and enhance their function
• learning environments should serve the wider community and where appropriate be integrated with the delivery of other public services in line with the place principle
• learning environments should be greener, more sustainable, allow safe and accessible routes for walking, cycling, and wheeling and be digitally enabled
• outdoor learning and the use of outdoor learning environments should be maximised
• good consultation about learning environments, direct engagement with learners and communities about their needs and experiences, and an involvement in decision making processes should lead to better outcomes for all
• collaboration across the learning estate, and collaboration with partners in localities, should support maximising its full potential
• investment in Scotland’s learning estate should contribute towards improving learning outcomes and support sustainable and inclusive economic growth

We are developing our Learning Estate Strategy, and this will be considered at the Education Committee meeting on 27 February 2025.

Some of the key information relating to our Learning Estate is available here:

LEARNING ESTATE INFORMATION