Curriculum Improvement Cycle
The Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC) is underway and is being led by Education Scotland.
As part of the Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC) co-design process, Education Scotland has shared early draft samples from the new curriculum. These materials are intended to give teachers an opportunity to understand how the curriculum improvement work is progressing and to contribute to the ongoing co-design process.
The materials are being developed for distribution to schools at the start of the 2026–27 academic year. A full draft technical Curriculum Framework is expected to be issued in early autumn. In addition, Building Scotland’s Curriculum: A draft resource for discussion and further co-design has now been published. The implementation date for the new curriculum in S1 in secondary schools is August 2028.
The SSTA has made clear that this major overhaul of the curriculum cannot be undertaken within normal working-time arrangements. The SSTA has consistently called for additional time to be made available for secondary teachers to participate in the development and preparation of the new curriculum during this year and in the years leading up to implementation in August 2028.
The Scottish Government is in the process of allocating two additional in-service days during the current school year and 2027. The first is to take place during this term, with the second taking place in 2027. These two additional in-service days will be organised by Education Scotland and devoted solely to the Curriculum Improvement Cycle.
SSTA advice to members: Members are advised to wait until the planned additional in-service days have been completed before determining future curriculum content and/or teaching materials. All materials and documents currently available remain drafts and are subject to further development and change.
Members should ensure that they manage and control their workload this year and should not be tempted to pre-empt the curriculum development process by undertaking work prematurely.
Materials for S1, for implementation in autumn 2028, should be produced during the 2027–28 school year, provided that sufficient additional time is allocated for this work.
Salary Increase – August 2026
The final part of the two-year SNCT pay agreement will be added to teachers’ salaries in August 2026.
All SNCT grades will receive a 3.25% increase, effective from 1 August 2026.
Claiming Back Pay
The pay changes will be applied automatically to most members who have remained employed by the same local authority.
However, the SSTA wishes to advise members who have retired, left the profession or moved to another local authority during the period covered by the pay settlement that they may need to submit a claim for back pay to their previous employing authority.
For further information, please use the SSTA proforma to assist with making a back-pay claim.
Financial Services
The SSTA is pleased to announce a referral relationship with Wesleyan, a company specialising in financial advice for professionals, with extensive expertise in the education sector.
Through this partnership, SSTA members will have access to tailored, high-quality financial guidance designed to support them at every stage of their career.
Members can access advice across a full range of financial services, including:
- Mortgage and home-buying advice
- Protection, including income protection, life cover and critical illness cover
- Savings and investment planning
- Pension and retirement planning
- Tax-efficient financial planning
Further information, including details of introductory webinars, will be issued shortly.
Tax Refunds
TAXrefundCo has helped many SSTA members over a number of years to ensure they have the correct income tax code and to claim refunds where tax has been overpaid.
However, the SSTA’s long-standing association with the company has now come to an end. The SSTA is currently seeking a new provider for this service.
Members will be updated once a new provider has been approved by the SSTA Finance and General Purposes Committee.
Don’t Say Yes, Say How – Managing Teacher Workload (WTA)
As a new term begins, rather than simply agreeing to every new initiative, idea or proposal that appears beneficial, teachers should ask one crucial question:
How will this be achieved within the agreed working time?
The start of a new school year often brings new initiatives and additional demands. Members should ensure that any new work is properly considered within the context of their Working Time Agreement (WTA) and that additional workload is not simply added without appropriate time being made available.
For more information on Working Time Agreements, including an explanatory video, please visit the SSTA website.
SSTA STANDING UP FOR ALL TEACHERS IN SECONDARY EDUCATION