Why does Scotland need IDEAS? We believe that young people gain important skills, values and understanding through good GCE. And we believe that a well networked GCE sector can support teachers and policy makers to deliver the best possible GCE in our schools and youth services, growing globally minded, informed and active citizens and communities.

Our sector is strong and diverse, but also undergoing change, especially as we respond and adapt to unprecedented global challenges: the climate emergency; the lingering impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic; and the continuing legacy of colonialism and other long-standing inequalities, both within and between communities and countries around the world. While offering direct value to our members, we also seek to work collaboratively with other networks in Scotland. During the pandemic, we saw silver linings in our ability to bring people together from all over Scotland and further afield to work together creatively online. We are learning from what works, and will continue to build on this in the future as a vibrant, virtual network.

We have developed three clear strategic priorities for our collective working going forward for the next three years (2023–2025). Our annual planning will situate our joint activities within these aims to help us achieve as much as we can with the resources we have, learning and refining as we go.