Category Archives: Curriculum for Excellence

Physical education

Event: Raising the Bar in Physical Education – 2 March 2013 (Edinburgh)

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Education Scotland, in partnership with sportscotland, is hosting this free event at Tynecastle High School in Edinburgh on Saturday 2 March to increase the knowledge and understanding of final year undergraduate primary teachers, postgraduate primary teachers and primary NQTs in physical education and to build their confidence and capacity to deliver quality lessons in this area.

The Scottish Government has provided an opportunity to raise the bar in physical education through a commitment to ensure schools provide at least two hours per week of high-quality physical education in primary schools and at least two periods per week for learners in S1-S4.  

This event will explore pedagogy that facilitates the significant aspects of learning and some of the perceived barriers to meeting the commitment. Practitioners will have the opportunity for professional dialogue and discussion as well as participating in practical workshops.

Please register online for this event. For more information, visit the Education Scotland website.

The Scottish Government

Funding for science programme

The Scottish Government has announced that a national programme of science events and exhibitions will take place across the country to celebrate the Year of Natural Scotland. The activity will take place in Scotland’s four science centres in 2013.

Full programme details are still to be announced but highlights are set to include:

  • A series of community and school events celebrating sustainable living and new technologies at Dundee Science Centre.
  • A festival focusing on sustainable science at Glasgow Science Centre, with hands-on workshops and ‘meet the expert’ sessions.
  • Workshops and exhibitions at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh celebrating the beauty of Scotland’s natural environment.
  • A ‘Green Energy Discovery Weekend’ and a symposium for primary pupils at Aberdeen’s Satrosphere Science Centre.

Find out more here

Engage for Education – Scots space mission ready for launch

The First Minister says, ‘Last week I was delighted to meet Scottish scientists and research teams who have been doing important work to help us understand the world and the universe.  First, I met Professor Peter Higgs, one of the most famous figures in Scottish science. Prof Higgs famously developed a theory into the basic building blocks of the universe and a particle that was named the ‘Higgs boson’, while working at the University of Edinburgh in the 1960s.  Last year researchers at the CERN laboratory in Switzerland confirmed the discovery of a previously-unknown boson whose behaviour so far has been consistent with the ‘Higgs boson’.  

To recognise Prof Higgs’ achievements and help inspire a new generation of scientists among today’s school pupils around Scotland, we have launched anannual Higgs Prize. This will give outstanding young school physicists the chance to win a trip to the CERN facility, where work continues on researching the Higgs particle.’

Find out more here

New resources added to Testimony website

Testimony is Education Scotland’s high quality resource to support learning and teaching in religious and moral education. This site illustrates how faith, belief and values can influence how a person acts and lives their life. It includes examples of religious and non-religious standpoints to show how people from around the world and in Scotland have been influenced by faith, belief and values.

New resources have now been added to the site including some BBC Class Clips that are relevant to the different sections. There are also additional video clips that will act as a stimulus for class discussion and debate. These can be used in conjunction with the text or adapted to suit the needs and context of your classroom.

Twig wins prestigious industry award for second year running

Twig World, the creators of Twig on Glow, have been awarded a prestigious BETT Award in the Digital Collections and Resource Banks category. For the second year running, the Glasgow-based start up has won this top education award for outstanding digital content. 

Judges praised Twig for a “well-designed and presented resource that can be used to support the curriculum as well as independent learning”. Twig is provided free to all Scottish local authority schools via Glow, at www.twigonglow.com.

Association for Science Education

Family science extravaganza returns to Perthshire  


A free, family fun day aimed at highlighting the excitement and relevance of science is taking place in Crieff in March.
 
‘Science Fun Factory’, which will showcase the weird and wonderful elements of science in all of its forms, will be held at Crieff Hydro on Saturday 9 March 2013. Last year, the event attracted around 1,000 visitors.
 
The event, which will run from 10 am until 4 pm, is being organised by the Association for Science Education. The event celebrates the Association for Science Education’s 50th anniversary year.
 
For more information, please contact Steuart Cuthbert – telephone 01764 670751, email steuartcuthbert@ase.org.uk or website

Higgs Prize kicks off FM science showcase

An annual prize to honour the world-renowned Edinburgh University scientist who has given his name to the Higgs boson is to be announced by the First Minister, launching a week showcasing Scottish science.
 
The annual Higgs Prize will be open to Scottish school students who excel in physics. It will be formally launched by the First Minister and Professor Peter Higgs at a reception at the First Minister’s official residence on Tuesday 5 February.

Find out more here

500 words competition!

BBC Radio 2 competition

If you’re aged 13 or under, what are you waiting for? Get writing!

We want you to send us something mad, magical, mind-blowing or mysterious…

You could win yourself a pile of books as tall as Chris Evans, and 500 books for your school library!

Calling all teachers and librarians

Download our free 500 Words Resources pack which is full to the brim with ideas to encourage children to read and write.

 Plus download our posters using the links below and help spread the word! 
PDF Download Enter the competition poster (1mb) 
PDF Download Become a judge poster (1mb) 

Find out more from the official website

Education Scotland has published further titles in Professional Focus Papers series

These materials have been designed to assist those supporting learners as they work towards the new qualifications.

The papers highlight important features of learning which are enhanced or different from previous arrangements. They provide advice on approaches to learning and teaching which build directly on those used in the 3-15 Broad General Education in order to promote continuity in learners’ acquisition of knowledge, understanding and skills. The papers are also intended to stimulate professional reflection and dialogue about learning.

This set of materials covers Lifeskills Mathematics, Mathematics, Care, Latin and Classical Studies at both National 4 and National 5, and Dance, Psychology, Sociology and Economics at National 5 only.

They come as part of the development of exemplar course materials across the full range of National 4 and National 5 qualifications, being managed by Education Scotland in partnership with ADES.

The Professional Focus Papers are now available for download on the National Qualifications area of the Education Scotland website.

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SQA announces set Scottish texts

SQA has unveiled the provisional list of Scottish texts that will be used in future Higher and National 5 English courses.

The list, including drama, poetry and prose, was drawn up after extensive consultation with English teachers, curriculum experts and other interested parties. It includes classics such as Burns and Stevenson, alongside a range of contemporary works.