About The Journey to Excellence

'It's an excellent school!' What do people mean when they say that? Is there such a thing as an excellent school? Can schools be 'excellent' across the board? What sorts of things are people thinking of when they talk about excellence? Would children and young people have the same idea of an excellent school as their teachers, or their parents, or members of the local community? 

This resource looks at some of the things we think of when we talk about 'excellence' in schools or early education centres. We have identified 'dimensions' and some of the key features of each.

Each of the ten dimensions relates to key processes within the school. Each should contribute to the highest quality outcomes for all learners. Although the dimensions are presented one by one, there are strong relationships between them. The dimensions help you to make sense of what may look like complex - and sometimes conflicting - expectations. It is up to you to decide which ones you focus on and in what order.

The Journey to Excellence web site contains video-based snapshots and case studies of Scottish schools which illustrate features of excellence in their day-to-day work. In these short movies, pupils, parents, teachers, support staff and senior managers discuss what excellence means within their schools and for them personally.

You may wish to view a walkthrough showing how to use the site on the Using this site page.