Curriculum for Excellence (often shortened to CfE) is the curriculum in Scotland which applies to all children and young
people age 3-18, wherever they are learning. It aims to raise
achievement for all, enabling young people to develop the
skills, knowledge and understanding they need to succeed in
learning, life and work.
The Four Capacities – the curriculum aims for all children to become:
• Successful Learners
• Confident Individuals
• Responsible Citizens
• Effective Contributors
The Seven Principles of Curriculum Design – all learning
must take account of these principles:
• Challenge and enjoyment
• Breadth
• Progression
• Depth
• Personalisation and choice
• Coherence
• Relevance
The Eight Curriculum Areas – containing a range of subjects:
• Expressive Arts – including art and design, dance, drama
and music
• Health and Wellbeing – mental, emotional, social and
physical wellbeing, PE, food and health, substance misuse
and relationships, sexual health and parenthood
• Languages – listening and talking, reading and writing in
literacy and English and modern languages, plus classical
languages and literacy and Gàidhlig/Gaelic learners (where
available)
• Mathematics – including analysing information, solving
problems and assessing risk
• Religious Education – learning about our Catholic Faith using This is Our Faith as a guide.
• Sciences – understanding important scientific concepts
across planet Earth, forces, electricity and waves, biological
systems, materials and topical science
• Social Studies – understanding people, place and society
in the past and present including history, geography,
modern studies and business education
• Technologies – including computing science, food,
textiles, craft, design, engineering, graphics and applied
technologies
Stages and levels
- a broad general education, providing a rounded education from the early years until the end of S3
The broad general education is divided into five curriculum levels (Early, First, Second, Third and Fourth) across eight curriculum areas.
Parent guides to the curriculum
