All posts by Ms Higgins

CPD, Curriculum for Excellence, News, Opportunities, Science

Fife’s CLN-Free CPD opportunity

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Curiosity and Creativity: Science, Art and Writing

Tuesday 29th January

4-6pm

Auchterderran Centre

Brought to you by Fife’s Creative Learning Network, get creative with the cross-curricular session and learn how art and writing can contribute prositively in science and learning. Be inspired and stimulated with some fresh ideas that incorporate art and writing techniques in your projects! Ideas from this session can be used for all ages of pupils.

In this session, delegates will learn about science, art and writing projects and how to go about delivering them in the classroom, with key techniques and resources to support these projects.

Additionally, participants will become familiar with two of Dundee Science Centre’s loan boxes which are based around science and literacy projects.

CfE links: EXA 0-02a/1-02a, EXA 0-04a/1-04a, EXA 0-05a/1-05a/2-05a, TCH 1-08a/2-08a, TCH 0-15a

Click here to register

Curriculum for Excellence, News

GTC News

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Revision of the Professional Standards

The revised Professional Standards were approved at a full Council meeting earlier this month, The revised Professional Standards which will come into effect from August 2013  includes the following:

The existing Professional Standards should continue to be used until the revisions come into effect.

Visit the GTC website for more info

Creative practitioners, Curriculum for Excellence, Education Scotland, Global Citizenship, News

Learning for Sustainability – the report of the One Planet Schools Working Group

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A One Planet Schools working group, chaired by Professor Peter Higgins from the University of Edinburgh, has been established to provide strategic advice and direction to support the implementation of the manifesto commitment which states that:

 “We welcome proposals for the creation of One Planet schools, and will look at ways of developing this concept. This will include action to continue the development of professional standards around sustainability education and leadership within our schools on environmental issues”.

Learning for Sustainability – the report of the One Planet Schools Working Group, was published on 17 December 2012.

Click here for more info

Creativity, Expressive Arts, Music, News, Opportunities, Primary schools, Secondary schools

Extra £1 million for musical instruments

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Scottish schools will be provided with an additional £1 million to buy musical instruments for their pupils, the Scottish Government has announced. The move has been made by Minister for Learning Alasdair Allan who has also formed a new group to address the issue of how music tuition is delivered, including the question of charges for pupils sitting SQA music exams.

Click here for more info

Curriculum for Excellence, Education Scotland, News, Parents, Primary schools

Foreign languages in primary schools

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An inquiry into the teaching of foreign languages in primary schools was launched on Friday 14 December by the European and External Relations Committee of the Scottish Parliament.

Earlier this year, the Government recommended that children should learn a second language from Primary 1 and that learning of a third language should start no later than Primary 5. The Committee has determined that it wants to look at this policy aim, the capacity within the curriculum for this, and the role of languages in supporting the economy.

The Committee would welcome views from parents, teachers and pupils for its inquiry. 

A call for views has been published at the Committee’s website here.

Issues to be explored in the Committee’s investigations include funding (including use of EU funds); the skills base and teaching resources available for language tuition; the capacity within the curriculum to accommodate greater language study; the choice of languages for teaching; and the role of languages in economic development.

News, Scotland Colleges

Scotland’s Colleges launches new branding

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Scotland’s Colleges has rebranded and are now operating under two new brands – College Development Network and Colleges Scotland. The name ‘Scotland’s Colleges’ is no longer being used.

College Development Network is now the point of contact for activities such as CPD events, learning resources and teaching support; and Colleges Scotland is the point of contact for policy and advocacy purposes.  They continue to operate from their office based in Stirling.

To find out more please visit the new website

News, Opportunities, resources, Secondary schools

Countdown to holiday season

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The holiday season will soon be upon us. The Choices for Life team have come up with some tips for you to have a safe and happy time throughout the festive period.

‘Choices for Life’ is an innovative diversionary and educational initiative delivered by the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) and funded by the Scottish Government.

The main objective is to raise awareness amongst young people aged 11-18 about the risks and dangers of substance use and misuse, including smoking, alcohol consumption and drugs.  For more information, visit http://www.sdea.police.uk/choicesforlife.html.

News

Schools Toolkit winner announced

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The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework is delighted to announce that the new name of the Schools Toolkit is SCQFFOLD FOR LEARNING.

 This suggestion was made by Steve Coyle, a probationary teacher from Aberdeen. The new name plays on the idea of a scaffold and SCQF plans to develop some graphics to more clearly illustrate this link with the name.

Creative Learning, Literacy and English, News, Opportunities

Wirkin Wi Wirds – Modren Scots Grammar

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Modren Scots Grammar: Wirkin Wi Wirds is one of the recent projects undertaken by Scottish Language Dictionaries (www.scotsdictionaries.org.uk) to celebrate their first ten years.

Their new introductory book is about discovering, exploring and discussing grammar. It should be well within the grasp of level four pupils, and many sections could usefully be introduced earlier.

Find out more here