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    • A worm's eye view of the front facade of Barracks Conference Centre, Stirling against a bright blue sky. The word 'dyslexia' is spelled out in red letters in the foreground.

    Jamie Oliver’s Dyslexia Revolution: what this means for Scotland

    Since the airing of the Channel 4 documentary Jamie’s Dyslexia Revolution, Dyslexia Scotland has received a surge of messages from people asking what we are doing to match Jamie’s call for inclusive educational reform in England and Wales.

    This statement addresses three key points:

    1. Our response to the documentary
    2. What Dyslexia Scotland is doing to improve education for dyslexic learners
    3. How you can help drive real change in Scotland

    Our response to Jamie’s Dyslexia Revolution

    Jamie Oliver’s documentary lit a flare on behalf of the dyslexic community. We wholeheartedly applaud his public call to action, use of his public persona platform to amplify the voices of the dyslexic community and his respectful and passionate plea to Government.

    In the Westminster Parliament, Jamie laid out a clear case: identify dyslexia early and ensure teachers are trained to support it. The film revealed the disadvantages faced by children and young people with dyslexia – echoes of Jamie’s own school experience – and highlighted just how little progress has been made through the generations.

    We strongly support the documentary’s core message: that every learner with dyslexia deserves fair and inclusive education. Jamie’s campaign is a high-profile rallying cry that mirrors Dyslexia Scotland’s mission and vision, and we thank him for it.

    What Dyslexia Scotland is doing to improve education in Scotland

    Our long-term effort

    For years, Dyslexia Scotland has championed inclusive education where learners with dyslexia have their rights met and are enabled to reach their potential. Together with our President, Sir Jackie Stewart, we campaigned for mandatory training in teacher education. This led to the adoption of a Framework for Inclusion by universities providing initial teacher education in Scotland – a step forward, but not far enough.

    Following the 2014 Making Sense review Dyslexia Scotland and Education Scotland developed a series of three free, open-access online modules for Scottish teachers on the Open University platform. These continue to help thousands of educators better understand and support dyslexic learners.

    Political advocacy

    Just as Jamie did with the UK government, we met with the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Education in December and January to ask for improvements in the identification and support of dyslexic learners in schools. 

    We met with the First Minister in November and are awaiting news about the commitments we asked for in relation to our recommendations in the hard-hitting research report ‘Towards a dyslexia-friendly Scotland?’.

    Following these meetings, The Scottish Government has acknowledged that “there is more to be done” to support children and young people with dyslexia.

    During Portfolio Questions in the Scottish Parliament, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth, addressed key concerns about dyslexia support in schools and announced plans to write to all Directors of Education about “best practice” approaches. This has yet to be actioned.

    Grassroots action

    While we lobby at a strategic level, we are also leading action on the ground. Key initiatives include:

    • A flagship dyslexia-inclusive education model co-developed with City of Edinburgh Council, funded by the Sean Connery Foundation. This trail-blazing project has the potential to reshape practice across Scotland.
    • A GTCS-accredited Professional Recognition programme, delivered with Education Scotland, that equips teachers to lead on dyslexia inclusion in their schools and learning communities. A strong community of committed, knowledgeable teachers has emerged over the past 5 years as a result
    • Our annual Education Conference, bringing together over 200 educators for expert-led, evidence-based dyslexia training.

    Despite our efforts, change remains slow. But we will not stop.

    How you can push for change

    You don’t have to wait for government decisions – your voice needs to be heard now. Here’s how you can take action:

    1. Contact your MSP
    Share your personal story. Ask your MSP to push for early dyslexia identification, mandatory initial teacher training and continuous professional learning on dyslexia. You can write, email, request a meeting, or send a video testimony. The more voices raised, the louder the call for change.

    Contact your MSP

    2. Join Dyslexia Scotland
    If you’re not yet a member, now’s the time. Stand with others calling for a dyslexia-friendly Scotland and help grow a movement too powerful to ignore.

    Become a Dyslexia Scotland member

    Together, we can – and must – ensure that every learner with dyslexia gets the support they need to thrive.

    Let’s make Scotland a dyslexia-friendly country before the next generation starts school.