Laura Johnstone is a primary teacher with Argyll and Bute Council, with added responsibility for the local roll out of the National Writing Programme. In this article Laura shares why she’s looking forward to being part of the Curriculum Improvement Cycle’s Collaboration group for English and Literacy.
I care deeply about literacy. Words connect us, they convey concepts, evoke emotion, generate ideas, they build, break and mend relationships. Whether read, written, or spoken, words are what make us human. My love of words followed me into the classroom- I love teaching literacy and I’m particularly interested in how it will evolve within our curriculum.
What is the future direction of the curriculum? How do we build on the foundations: the 4 capacities, Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) and the contexts for learning – while recognising that education is more than being a successful learner?
I‘m approaching the curriculum refresh from two perspectives. For 14 years I have been a class teacher; a role I still hold 2 days a week. I also lead writing development across Argyll & Bute and support the delivery of the Children and Young People Improvement Collaborative (CYPIC) National Improving Writing Programme. The dual nature of my job means I have a strategic overview but I also remain ‘delivering the goods’ at an operational level. I’ll be considering both roles when I participate in the Curriculum Improvement Cycle’s English and Literacy Collaboration Group but honestly….my views will be weighted towards being a classroom practitioner.
Inviting practitioners to join the mix of academics, strategic leaders and other stakeholders is more than just lip service. We are being placed (in substantial numbers) at the heart of curriculum development..
Whatever the refreshed curriculum looks like, I’m hoping clarity infuses everything. Clarity allows consistent and effective delivery. It enables practitioners to align pedagogies, outcomes and assessments to provide meaningful and impactful learning experiences. It reduces doubt, confusion and overwhelm.
It’s been 20 years since Scotland’s last National Debate on Education and since then, the importance of securing equity has become more prominent within our educational landscape. Our refresh gives opportunity to ensure equity permeates through all aspects of education.
Talking and listening is already more heavily weighted in the E&Os, being regarded as the building blocks for literacy. As we move towards the refresh we are anticipating discussion around how we continue to build on this existing emphasis but also establish new ways oral literacy can feed into our curriculum.
In this digital era our young people not only have more access to information than ever before but they are actively fed it through algorithms. They have continual access to information- some useful, some harmful. Being able to tell the difference is a life skill our curriculum will be aiming to deliver. To do this we must equip learners with the skills to evaluate, think critically and discuss.
50-60% of 8 year olds will be employed in careers which don’t yet exist. Our refreshed curriculum must be future proof and equip young people with the skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world. This is something I care about as a teacher but also, perhaps more so, as a parent. We have the opportunity to ensure our curriculum is fit for an ever evolving world and we must work together to get it right.
As I reflected on my thoughts to write this I realise I pose a lot of questions. I think that is why I’m looking forward to being part of the Collaboration Group; we’ll all have questions and be given the time and space to consider answers. How to ensure equity, progression, challenge, clarity, oral literacy, future-proofing… Practitioners from all sectors and all authorities discussing what our new curriculum could be and should be. Using our skills and experiences but most of all, our words- to convey concepts, evoke emotion and generate ideas…caring deeply about literacy and how it evolves in our curriculum.
If you are keen to hear and learn more about the Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC) you might be interested to listen to the latest Education Scotland Learning Conversations Podcast with Education Scotland Chief Executive, Gillian Hamilton, and Education Scotland Strategic Director, Ollie Bray, on the CIC or read this recent article from TESS Scotland – CfE review: ‘Evolving Curriculum for Excellence, not ripping it up.’ You can also visit the CIC Web Portal/ Glow Blog and from here sign up for the termly CIC News Bulletin and read the latest issue here.
