Professional Learning Hubs
Collaborative, research-informed spaces for professional learning across Scotland
As part of the Centre, we are developing a national network of Professional Learning Hubs designed to support teachers in leading and engaging with research-informed professional learning. These hubs will provide a locally responsive and thematically rich infrastructure for collaborative enquiry, grounded in practice and informed by evidence.
Each hub is shaped in partnership with teachers, local authorities, universities, and other key stakeholders. Together, they form a connected system that fosters innovation, reflection, and the development of professional knowledge across all sectors and contexts of Scottish education.
What Are the Professional Learning Hubs?
Professional Learning Hubs are structured but flexible communities of practice. They offer teachers opportunities to:
- Explore and address local and national priorities in learning, teaching, and assessment
- Engage with and contribute to research-informed professional learning
- Co-create and share practical resources and evidence-based strategies
- Build networks of collaboration across schools, authorities, and regions
- Participate in hybrid learning opportunities, including digital and in-person activities
Each hub has its own identity, focus, and rhythm of activity, reflecting the needs of its local context while contributing to the wider aims of the Centre.
Types of Professional Learning Hubs
We intend to develop two types of Professional Learning Hub:
- Core Hubs, which will be located in Skye and Dumfries
- Thematic Hubs, which will be established in response to teacher needs identified during focus groups and surveys
All hubs operate under the shared values of collaboration, inclusivity, and professional trust, supported by a blend of digital infrastructure and face-to-face engagement.
How the Hubs Work
Each hub is supported by a designated team, including a thematic lead, supported by a group of Teacher Research Associates seconded from school, academics from across Scotland’s universities, and local stakeholders. Activities may include:
- Professional learning events, workshops, or seminars
- Collaborative inquiry projects or practitioner research
- Online discussions and resource-sharing
- Joint evaluation and reflection activities
The hubs are intended as evolving spaces, responsive to the profession’s needs, shaped by teacher voice, and focused on building knowledge and capacity within the system.