Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), now known as ‘Scotland’s Curriculum,’ is bringing learning to life in the way education is delivered for all 3-18year olds in nursery, primary, secondary, at college and via workplace or community learning. It aims to respond and adapt flexibly to meet the needs of an ever changing and evolving world and Scotland’s place within it.

At its heart lies a constant commitment and drive towards excellence and equity, to raise standards, improve knowledge, develop skills for all learners and close the gap between the lowest and highest achievers by ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to be successful no matter what their background or circumstances. Ultimately it aims to nurture children and young people as successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.

There are eight curriculum areas within CfE – literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing are recognised as being particularly important – these are seen as being the ‘responsibility of all’ staff.

CfE also includes languages, expressive arts, religious and moral education, sciences, social studies and technologies. The responsibility for the curriculum offer in your school lies with Headteacher of your school.

How does Curriculum for Excellence work?

Curriculum for Excellence includes four contexts for learning:

• Curriculum areas and subjects
• Interdisciplinary learning
• Ethos and life of the school
• Opportunities for personal achievement

Curriculum levels and stages

The curriculum has two stages:

• the broad general education (from the early years to the end of S3), and
• the senior phase (S4 to S6).

Broad General Education

The broad general education has five Curriculum levels (early, first, second, third and fourth). The senior phase is designed to build on the experiences and outcomes of the broad general education, and to allow young people to take qualifications and courses that suit their abilities and interests.

Throughout the Broad General Education (BGE) phase, children and young people work their way through Experiences and Outcomes in each of the five Curriculum Levels (early, first, second, third and fourth) and in each of the eight Curricular Areas.

The five Curricular Levels span pre-school to the end of S3. This is the Broad General Education phase. Pupils progress at their own pace, working through the Experiences and Outcomes of the most appropriate level for them.

Pupils will be supported in collecting evidence of their achievements, with a profile of these being produced in P7 and S3.

Experiences and Outcomes are what the learner will be able to understand, a skill they have developed or what they are able to do.

There are detailed Experiences and Outcomes for all subjects available on the Education Scotland website; teachers work to deliver these, and the progress of learners is measured in how a young person responds and achieves in relation to the Experiences and Outcomes.

Teachers are able to use a series of measures to help them better understand and make judgements about a young person’s journey through the Experiences and Outcomes. Reporting to parents is likely to include information about children’s Experiences and Outcomes and about the levels at which they are working.

Senior Phase

Senior Phase learners work towards qualifications in the Senior Phase. Available qualifications and awards include The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) levels 3-7, National 1, National 2, National 3, National 4, National 5, Higher, Advanced Higher, Skills for Work, Progression Awards. Learners may also gain awards such as the John Muir Award, the Duke of Edinburgh Award and Youth Achievement Awards. When young people leave school aged 16+, they are entitled to a positive and sustained destination. This may be college, university, work, apprenticeships or training.