01.
The Futures
Institute
We live in a fast-changing world. To prepare for the opportunities and challenges it brings, Dollar Academy is committed to offering young people innovative educational experiences. New ways of working demand new kinds of learning space; and the Academy is building an ambitious new facility – the Futures Institute.
The Futures Institute will not only fulfil our need for more teaching, collaboration and covered recreational spaces, it will also enable us to deliver our aspirations for the future.
Inside the building, pupils will have opportunities to work in new ways with experts from industry, universities and NGOs to collaborate and design solutions to real-world problems. To facilitate this, the Futures Institute will provide:
A range of stimulating learning environments – including innovative classrooms and laboratories, maker spaces, a digital prototyping lab and creative arts areas.
A flexible lecture theatre for talks, seminars, exhibitions and events delivered by influential speakers from the worlds of education, business, science, technology and the creative industries.
A centre for the sharing of emerging educational practice and technology, teacher collaboration and training.
We are fortunate to have been supported in our work by globally renowned architect, and former Dollar pupil Andrew Whalley OBE. Andrew – who designed our new Institute – is the current Chairman of Grimshaw, and is the architect behind many award-winning structures including the Eden Project in Cornwall →, the International Terminal at Waterloo → and the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center in New York →.
02.
The living
building
challenge
From the outset FIDA has been committed to exploring an exemplar level of sustainability with an aspiration towards a Living Building Challenge (LBC) project. This aspiration helped to shape the original concept for the building and the surrounding landscape in which it sits. Due to project changes, full LBC is no longer pursued as part of the project, however a bespoke sustainability framework has been created to capture the FIDA’s sustainability aspirations meaning the Futures Institute will be a living facility to improve the lives of those that use it and an ecosystem to enable productivity and wellbeing in education.
Living Buildings:
Are regenerative buildings that connect occupants to light, air, food, nature, and community
Are self-sufficient and remain within the resource limits of their site.
Create a positive impact on the human and natural systems that interact with them.
03.
CURRICULUM
DEVELOPMENT
The current UK education system has largely been inherited from the 18th century, and aspects of it have not changed since then. There are, of course, traditions that must be cherished but, at the same time, the world around us is moving quickly. Education Scotland and the Scottish Qualifications Authority are currently in the process of being reformed and replaced by more contemporary organisations. The singular focus on a single-subject exam-based curriculum is being questioned and the Hayward Review, published in 2023, proposed new interdisciplinary and skills-based qualifications.
At the same time, Learning for Sustainability has been identified as a national priority and a 25-point action plan was launched in June 2023. The Cabinet Secretary for Education has said, “The strategy is about placing sustainability at the heart of the education system, revolutionising what and how students learn.”
These are the most significant reforms to Scottish education in a generation and represent a profound shift in learning and teaching with the aim of better preparing young people for life beyond school.
04.
FIDA
Dollar Academy has long been at the forefront of education in Scotland and the current period of reform is no exception.
In May 2021 we successfully launched FIDA (The Futures Institute at Dollar Academy) with a vision to tackle three fundamental challenges – the need to find a compelling alternative to traditional classroom teaching and exams; equitable access to education; and sustainability.
FIDA provides young people at Dollar Academy and across Scotland with unique opportunities to undertake real-world challenges founded on the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. These take the form of workshops, skills-based courses, design challenges and competitions, all of which are offered either in person and/ or via an online platform to enable the widest possible participation.
Over the last 18 months FIDA has developed, launched and piloted its International Sustainability Diploma, a qualification worth 24 points at SCQF Level 6 (equivalent to one Higher), which has UCAS and international recognition. You can read more about the qualification and its success on our website here.
FIDA’s courses, projects and our Diploma all share three key characteristics:
They are rooted in at least one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
They require pupils to think creatively and draw upon different areas of knowledge and learning in order to solve real-world problems.
They are co-designed and delivered with experts from industry and universities.
To date, over 600 pupils and teachers from across Scotland, and further afield, have benefited from FIDA resources – around 15% from Dollar Academy and 85% from local authority schools – all entirely free of charge:
As the national discussion of educational reform develops we predict that many schools throughout the UK will make an increasing amount of time available for interdisciplinary teaching and learning in collaboration with industry and academia, and we will be at the forefront of this shift. Professor Ken Muir, the independent advisor to the Scottish Government on the replacement of the Scottish Qualifications Authority, has publicly endorsed FIDA:
“FIDA’s bold approach to education places the student experience at the centre, providing critical opportunities to engage with industry and stakeholders beyond the classroom. This aligns closely with some of the recommendations I made in my report to the Scottish Government on a future vision for Scottish education and I am highly impressed with what the initiative aims to do.”
Professor Ken Muir
We produce a regular FIDA Newsletter – sign up and read previous editions here.
FIDA & The New Futures Institute
Traditionally, schools have been designed in a compartmentalised way to support single-subject teaching. The Futures Institute will provide spaces that will support this new way of teaching and learning and enable collaboration between departments. Providing these spaces will facilitate new conversations and partnerships, spearheading further curriculum development.
All Dollar pupils will spend time in the Futures Institute and benefit from the new and exciting educational opportunities it supports. The Institute will also allow more young people from across Scotland to access these experiences. Our aim is to better prepare all our students for the opportunities and challenges of the world beyond the school gates.
“Scotland finds itself in a fast-changing, digital world. We aspire to play a leading role in that world, so it is vital that young people leave school with more than just knowledge taught in the classroom. FIDA is demonstrating the enormous potential of a new way of working that will equip young folk with the skills they need to thrive and succeed in the modern workplace. And this new way of working demands a new kind of space. I really feel that the proposed new building, with innovative spaces to think, design, create, collaborate and communicate, is exactly what FIDA needs to offer these vital educational experiences to young people from across our country. I strongly support this ambitious and important plan.”
Tim Allan CBE, Chair of the V&A Dundee and entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist
05.
widening acess to education
Central to the Academy’s founding principles is a core belief in the transformative power of education and our responsibility to support as many young people as possible in their development. FIDA’s free online provision and in-person workshops have allowed us to further develop our existing bursary provision in a modern and scalable way to children across the country, and beyond. We will be able to develop this important work even further in our new building.
“To be given access to this resource has been an absolute godsend and the support FIDA has given me has been immeasurable. More importantly, the resource being made available to my students has boosted their confidence and ability immensely.”
David Thomson, Head of Modern Studies at Morgan Academy in Dundee
“The weekend was excellent. It gave us a taste of the teamwork needed to make projects work. I am most grateful for the knowledge I gained from the architects. Model-making after the brainstorming sessions enabled us to see how to generate ideas into reality, and my favourite part was when we were all working as a large team to complete the artistic monument.”
S6 pupil from Glasgow who participated in FIDA’s ‘Design for the Planet’ architecture workshop during COP26
06.
Strengthening
the local economy together
Guided by the principles of community wealth building, organisations like Dollar Academy can play a key role in supporting and strengthening the local economy by building strong ties with the community and businesses. Through FIDA we look forward to building more partnerships that will allow us to play an even greater role in the surrounding area. A good example of this is the work we are currently doing with Scotland’s International Environment Centre (SIEC), Clacks Council and Stirling University.
SIEC is a pioneering collaboration that aims to create an ‘innovation community’ in the Forth Valley, driving the creation of a net zero regional economy and acting as a global exemplar of low-carbon growth. Through innovation and partnership, SIEC delivers transformational change in sustainable business practice, positioning the protection and enhancement of our natural resources as an enabler of economic prosperity, wellbeing, and a just transition to a net zero future.
“Scotland’s International Environment Centre is delighted to be collaborating with FIDA. The ideas and innovations being generated by young people are inspirational and, in partnership, FIDA and SIEC can enable those ideas and innovations to become reality as clean, sustainable businesses, technologies and services. This will play a central role in establishing Clackmannanshire as the headquarters of low-carbon innovation for Scotland.”
Dr John Rogers, Executive Director of the Research, Innovation & Business Engagement at the University of Stirling
With our new partners, we are exploring how a sustainable business accelerator could take the ideas generated by young people and turn them into reality, thereby fostering entrepreneurism and empowerment.
“Partnership working is a key value for Clackmannanshire Council. The chance to participate in FIDA through the SIEC is a tremendously exciting opportunity for our residents, the County and Scotland. I am particularly keen to see how we can build on the foundations already in place to maximise opportunity and access to innovation, enterprise and ultimately better, well-paid jobs for our young people.
By embedding the principles of Community Wealth Building into our partnership, I am optimistic that the benefits of our work will be shared across Clackmannanshire and beyond.”
Councillor Ellen Forson, Leader of Clackmannanshire Council
07.
Get
Involved
We would be delighted to hear from anyone who would like to get involved with this ground-breaking initiative. Please complete the contact form below, and a member of the project team will be in touch.
If you would like to financially support this project, please click here to make a donation or to find out more about giving opportunities.
CONTACT
rector@dollaracademy.org.uk
+44 1259 742 511
Dollar, Clackmannanshire
FK14 7DU
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