A Curriculum for Excellence

Curriculum for Excellence underpins education in Scotland. It includes nurseries, schools, colleges and community learning from 3 to 18 and beyond.

The table below matches the five curriculum levels to stages of learning generally applicable, with flexibility (for example, for young people who are particularly able and/or have additional support needs).

Level	Stage
Early	The pre-school years and P1, or later for some.
First	To the end of P4, but earlier or later for some.
Second	To the end of P7, but earlier or later for some.
Third and Fourth	S1 to S3, but earlier for some. The fourth level broadly equates to Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework level 4. The fourth level experiences and outcomes are intended to provide possibilities for choice and young people’s programmes will not include all of the fourth level outcomes.
Senior phase	S4 to S6, and college or other means of study.

From pre-school to the end of S3 (3-15) young people will experience a broad general education which is designed to enable each child or young person to be a successful learner, a confident individual, a responsible citizen and an effective contributor. The broad general education will include all of the Experiences and Outcomes across all curriculum areas up to and including the third level.  Throughout all learning, prime importance is given to literacy, numeracy and thinking skills; skills for learning, life and work; an understanding of society, the world and Scotland’s place in it, and an active and healthy lifestyle. A range of teaching methods and contexts for learning is used, including active and enterprising learning, which encourage young people to become enquiring; learning across the curriculum which helps young people make links between subjects, and learning outside classrooms in the outdoors and in the community, which gives opportunities for learners to deepen their learning in real-life contexts. Most learners will progress into the fourth level in many aspects of their learning before the end of S3, laying strong foundations for more specialised learning.

Young people approaching the senior phase (15-18) will have a range of options that reflect their abilities and aspirations, including staying on at school, going to college or university, entering work-based or community-based learning, volunteering, or a combination of these. These options offer the opportunity to study for qualifications and enhance skills important to their success in learning, life and work. New qualifications are being developed by the Scottish Qualifications Authority which will support and reflect young people’s learning in Curriculum for Excellence. These will allow a more personalised approach to study. For example, with guidance from their teachers, young people will be able to take advantage of more flexible arrangements: options to take qualifications over one or two years; taking National 4 and 5 qualifications in S4, S5 and S6 or by-passing these and working towards Higher.

Curriculum for Excellence emphasises that assessment is an integral part of day-to-day teaching and learning. Learners’ progress will be closely monitored by staff, who reflect with them on their strengths, learning needs and next steps, and take action based on this. Learners themselves will be increasingly involved in this process, as they develop the skills needed to be able to make effective judgments on their own learning; skills that will be important to them throughout life.  Testing will continue to be part of the framework of assessment, providing additional evidence of what learners know, understand and are able to do, and helping teachers plan learning experiences which are motivating and challenging.