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. Read more at the following link:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/12/moneyformusic16122012
Historic Scotland Job Opportunity – Local Learning Officer, Bothwell Castle
Historic Scotland’s Learning Services team is looking to commission a creative and enthusiastic individual as Local Learning Officer at Bothwell Castle. The Local Learning Officer will work closely with the Regional Learning Development Officer to develop and deliver educational resources and activities that support teaching and inspire learning at this magnificent historic site.
Follow the link below and type Local Learning Officer, Bothwell Castle into the search box:
http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/search_mainpage.aspx
The Involvement of External Experts in School Education
Education Scotland has published a report on the importance of involving external experts in school education in response to a statement made by Michael Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, in the Scottish Parliament on 9 February 2012.
To read more and download the report click here
Launch of the Scottish Education Awards
The Scottish Education Awards were launched on Monday 3 December by Michael Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning. The awards celebrate the hard work and success in Scottish education. They recognise the achievements of people who dedicate their lives to children and young people and showcase the valuable work and innovation in learning environments across Scotland.
Nominations for the 2013 awards can be submitted from now until 22 February 2013. Please circulate and share this information with your networks. For more information visit the Scottish Education Awards website.
New web based course materials for National 4 and National 5
Education Scotland has published the first tranche of web based course materials to support National 4 and National 5 qualifications. The materials have been designed to help teachers and others with the delivery of programmes of learning within the new qualifications framework.
Materials now available are:
Drama for National 4 and National 5
Fashion and Textile Technology for National 4 and National 5
Geography for National 4 and National 5
Modern Studies for National 4 and National 5
RMPS for National 4 and National 5
Practical Cake Craft for National 5
Health and Food Technology for National 4 and National 5
View the new materials on Education Scotland’s website:
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/nationalqualifications/coursematerials/index.asp
ES has been working very closely with ADES to co-ordinate the development and publication of exemplar course materials across the full range of National 4 and National 5 qualifications and further materials will publish over the coming months.
Opening up the Future
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/newsandevents/educationnews/2012/pressreleases/december/openingupthefuturelaunch.asp
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/newsandevents/educationnews/2012/educational/december/news_tcm4741823.asp
Education Scotland has launched a new strategic thinking kit, Promoting Innovative Practice and Transformative Change, to promote the visioning and planning needed for change as educational establishments and services address the challenges and priorities of today’s evolving education system.
A collection of videos showing how education establishments and communities have used the toolkit are available the Journey to Excellence website.
Opening up the Future was launched on 4 December, highlighting the new approaches being used to make change happen. Read Graham Leicester’s review of the day published in the Scotsman on 5th December:
http://www.scotsman.com/news/graham-leicester-what-we-need-now-is-real-butterfly-thinking-1-2677079
Post-event discussions and learning continue online:
· Join our professional learning community to share and discuss your change projects with other practitioners: https://portal.glowscotland.org.uk/establishments/nationalsite/CPD%20Central/ourfuture/home.aspx (Requires Glow login)
· See video examples of Opening Up The Future projects from across Scotland on the Journey to Excellence site
http://www.journeytoexcellence.org.uk/resourcesandcpd/openingupthefuture/index.asp
· Keep up to date with Opening Up The Future developments through the project blog: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/PIPTC/
· Watch and share the ‘It’s my future’ music video via YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdE9eBVZ5cg
· Catch up with the Opening Up The Future launch event http://www.facebook.com/events/143020095845203/
CfE Briefing 6: Progression from the Broad General Education to the Senior Phase
The sixth title in the popular series of CfE Briefings is now available and focuses on Progression from the Broad General Education to the Senior Phase. This latest briefing explores the pivotal role of the S3 experience. It builds on the information in CfE Briefing 1: Broad General Education in the Secondary School.
This series of briefings provides advice for practitioners and can also be used to inform partners, learners and their parents in taking forward Curriculum for Excellence.
Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme Open Fund
From 23 July – 3 August 2014, Glasgow will host the XX Commonwealth Games, one of the world’s most significant multi-sports events.
Glasgow 2014 will be Scotland’s largest ever combined sporting and cultural celebration, and the vision is to stage an outstanding Games that will be celebrated at home and across the Commonwealth. As an integral part of an unforgettable Commonwealth Games experience, we have the ambition to stage and support a truly spectacular and surprising programme of cultural events that will bring the Commonwealth to Scotland and take Scotland to the Commonwealth.
Glasgow 2014 Limited, Creative Scotland and Glasgow Life are now inviting individuals and organisations to apply to the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme Open Fund.
This fund is a major component in the development of the nationwide Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme and aims to enhance the Games experience for Scotland’s communities, spectators and visitors, as well as present the best of Scotland’s culture alongside that of the Commonwealth.
A total of £4million is available and individual artists, community-led groups and arts organisations are invited to apply for awards ranging from £20,000 up to £300,000.
Projects can be new and one-off events or enhancements of an existing festival or programme of work. They can feature in either or both the Scotland-wide programme Culture 2014 – which will focus on the countdown to the Games before the focus subsequently turns to other major events, such as the Ryder Cup and the Edinburgh Festivals – and Festival 2014, which will transform Glasgow during Games-time.
Further details on the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme and other opportunities, along with background information on the Games, and full guidelines on how to apply to the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme Open Fund can be found on the Creative Scotland website.
Applications close on Friday 22 February 2013.
View the full press release.
January 2013 Information Sessions
To complement the background and application documents, a series of Information Sessions will be held in the following locations, providing an informal opportunity to find out more about the programme and ask questions. Book your place via the links below.
Tuesday 8 January 2013 – Edinburgh
Wednesday 9 January 2013 – Inverness
Thursday 10 January 2013 – Aberdeen
Friday 11 January 2013 – Glasgow
If you have any access requirements please let us know when making your booking.
Universal Children’s Day
Aileen Campbell, Minister for Children and Young People, highlights that Education Scotland will deliver a three-year programme to raise awareness in schools of children’s rights, in partnership with UNICEF. This builds on the Rights Respecting Schools Award.
http://engageforeducation.org/2012/11/universal-childrens-day/
SQA update on New National Qualifications
SQA has published the November issue of New National Qualifications Update.
Includes information on:
· Unit Assessment Support
· Draft Unit Specifications for Advanced Highers
· CfE Subject Implementation events
· Suite of guides
· Scottish Studies Award
· Education Scotland Professional Focus Papers.
