Education in Norway and Scotland: Developing and Re-forming the Systems

Abstract

This chapter reviews the development of educational policy and practice in Scotland and Norway. The chapter mainly focuses on the public education systems, and the authors examine the historical development of public education in each country, factors that have encouraged democratic access to schools, the development of Early Childhood Education and Care programs, and interactions between schools and their communities. The Chapter encompasses the history of school education and education legislation, the role of the Church in education, an analysis of the democratisation of access to schooling and introduction of democratic systems within schools as a part of the wider democratisation of society; the development of early years education and care, and the relationship between schools and their communities and wider area. The authors highlight the importance of decentralisation of education in Norway, including decisions about appropriate curriculum, to local governing bodies. This has built close linkages between schools and communities with an emphasis on place-based learning.