Monthly Archives: May 2013

Additional Support for Learning, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Supporting Learners, Universal Support, Young people, children & families

We Can and Must do Better – revised training materials from CELCIS

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We Can and Must Do Better – new website launched

CELCIS has launched a new website for the revised We Can and Must Do Better training materials.
The We Can and Must Do Better training materials were originally produced on a DVD-ROM in 2008. CELCIS has now reviewed and updated these materials to reflect current research and Scottish policy and practice around:
• Getting It Right for Every Child
• Curriculum for Excellence
• Additional Support for Learning
• The Looked After Children Regulations 2009
• Early Years
• Parenting
The materials are relevant to anyone working with looked after children, care leavers and their families; in particular residential workers, foster carers, kinship carers, teachers, social workers and health professionals. They may also be relevant to professionals from across the wider child care workforce who are working with any vulnerable children and families.
These materials can be used for self study or/and as a resource for trainers to develop tutored training courses.

Early Years, Gaelic Learners, Literacy and Gàidhlig, Outdoor Learning

We’re Going on a Gaelic Bear Hunt!

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Our friends at Grounds for Learning have very kindly  shared a link to the children of Caledonia Primary school giving a tour of their school grounds as they go on a bear hunt. You can see the video here.

Do you have a project you would like to share? Drop us a line in the comments box and we’ll get back to you.

Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing

S*xting | The Corner Dundee | Health & Info for Young People

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“Pose, S*xt – What Happens Next?”

The campaign aims to raise awareness amongst young people around the possible consequences of making, sending and uploading s*xy images or texts on their phones or via social networking sites, known as ‘S*xting’. Additionally The Corner will gather information on local experiences of S*xting which will help inform young peoples services within Dundee.
Have a look at our magazine by clicking here to find out more.
CEOP have created a 10 minute clip around s*xting click here to view it.
Pose, S*xt – What Happens Next? materials can be seen in the city centre drop in and will also be travelling around Dundee schools and outreach work around the city.
office.corner@nhs.net01382 20 60 60

Drop in: 13 Shore Terrace, Dundee
Office: 18 Dock Street, Dundee

Expressive Arts, Outdoor Learning, Sciences, Technologies

Look, Capture, Create

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Curious and creative learners from across Scotland have been exploring the importance and beauty of Scottish Biodiversity through Scottish designer/illustrator Johanna Basford’s exhibition ‘Wonderlands’ via Glow TV. This interdisciplinary learning experience has been developed in partnership with Dundee Contemporary Arts and is being supported by Sarah Derrick, Head of Education at DCA and Anna Rossvoll, Emerging Technologies Development Officer with Education Scotland. 

Look Capture Create outline for educators

Johanna Basford is an ink evangelist who creates beautifully intricate hand drawn designs using black ink. ‘Wonderlands’ is her first solo exhibition and it is proving to be a magical context for creative learning through expressive arts, science, mathematics and languages.

Before the project went live learners were invited to join the Look, Capture, Create Glow group by submitting an InkyME! The response was astounding. Currently there are  InkyMEs exhibiting from Burravoe, Carron, Clackmannan, Hythehill, Lochgelly West, Lincluden, St Andrews and St Patricks primary schools.  The InkyMEs have even travelled to Dundee to attend the first live Glow TV event ‘Wondertales’ at Dundee Contemporary Arts on 13th May.

‘Wondertales’ encouraged learners to look at the intricacy of Johanna’s designs and to capture the detail in words to create a Wondertale!  Wendy Woolfson, an incredibly talented storyteller led the event, creating breath taking stories based on three of Johanna’s wallpaper designs. She then went on to create a collaborative tale as learners submitted their ideas live during the event. You can watch Wendy in action here.

This use of an exhibition as a form of text truly captured the imagination of learners and they have submitted incredible  Wondertales to the Glow wiki.  Learners are taking the  time to read each other’s work and leave comments. It would be lovely if you could do the same. (Glow username and password required)

Keep up to date with the Look, Capture, Create Glow blog and the next Look, Capture, Create Glow TV event will take place at Dundee Botanical Gardens at 10am on the 4th June.

Additional Support for Learning, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Outdoor Learning, Responsibility of All

Free CPD with the Royal Horticultural Society

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The RHS Campaign for School Gardening aims to encourage and support schools to develop and actively use a school garden. As part of the Campaign they provide teachers with resources through this website and an extensive programme of CPD days.  Fabulous edible garden and playground ideas, like the recycled pallet pictured here.

Why get involved?

Join the RHS Campaign for School Gardening and reap the benefits for your school:

  • Free start-up kit following registration on this website.
  • Rewards and certificates for your progress on the new benchmarking scheme.
  • Access to useful information and advice that will help you use your school’s garden to greater effect.
  • Regular news and items of interest sent to you by e-mail.
  • Access to a national programme of RHS CPD days.  Places still available for June 6th!

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/schoolgardening/default.aspa

Contact your Scottish Regional Advisor for course information.

Angela Smith

Development Officer for Scotland

Education, Funding and Communities

angelasmith@rhs.org.uk

07714560008

CfE, Mathematics, Sciences

Scottish Engineering Special Leaders Award for STEM 2013

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Leaders Award for STEM and Scottish Engineering are challenging primary and secondary school learners in Scotland to consider what they would do if they were an engineer. Learners are being asked to research engineering and interview practicing engineers to illustrate and annotate their interpretation of the statement “If I could be an engineer in Scotland, what would I do?”

This award is a great opportunity to engage both primary and secondary school learners with real engineers who will convey the importance of STEM in their daily working lives. Schools will be able to develop relationships with industry, both local and worldwide, giving children and young people a unique perspective of the diversity of engineering professions and their significance in the wider world.

Register your school via the website and state that you are participating in the Scottish Engineering Special Leaders Award.

CfE, Early Years, Sciences

Developing progression in science – Perth High School Local Management Group

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Over a year and half ago the 16 schools in Perth High School Local Management Group (LMG) decided to work collaboratively to develop learning and teaching in science. The aim of their partnership working was to:

  • Support primary/secondary transition
  • Provide a progressive, cohesive science experience for all learners
  • Build staff partnerships and understanding across primary and secondary
  • Build staff confidence in teaching science
  • Promote science as being exciting and fun
  • Promote interdisciplinary learning
  • Support eco work and careers education.

In the first phase of development, six primary and two secondary practitioners worked together with Education Scotland’s Sciences Development Officer to produce three sets of rich tasks from Early to Second Level which focussed on the themes of energy and forces, biodiversity and materials. The positive response to these resources persuaded the LMG to invest further in the programme and led to a practitioner from each of the primary schools and secondary school being allocated time to work together to produce a comprehensive science programme comprising further rich tasks from Early to Second Level as well as a skills progression framework, a science glossary and teachers’ guide. The science programme that has been produced also incorporates a number of the learning journeys from STEM Central.

An LMG engagement event in March was used to roll out the suite of meaningful and useable support materials to all practitioners across the 16 schools. These materials will be used to support learning and teaching in sciences from the start of the next academic session. The LMG also report other positive benefits from the collaboration including the development of leadership capacity and growth in confidence amongst practitioners with regards to the sciences. The LMG will continue to network and share their practice between the schools involved and across their education authority. In the coming months they also hope to publish their resources for others to use. Watch this space for further details.

Community Capacity Building, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Outdoor Learning, Young people, children & families

Scotland’s Nature Festival

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Scotland’s Nature Festival (formerly Biodiversity Week) is organised by Scottish Natural Heritage and other strong partners in environment and forestry, outdoor learning and play to highlight and celebrate Scotland’s natural landscape, areas of wild beauty and city greenspaces. This year’s theme is ‘Love Life, Love Nature’ and aims to inspire fun, adventurous and positive engagement with nature as a way to promote biodiversity, sustainability, enjoyment and well-being.

The .pdf below lists a collection of resources, with weblinks for celebration activities and nature based experiences suitable for all ages.

2020 Scotland’s Nature Festival

Also included below is a presentation on the top ten reasons why Scottish teachers say they love leading learning in the outdoors – why not choose one to explore in a nature-based action learning project? Love life, love nature and enjoy celebrating!

Dalkeith Top Ten Reasons to Love OL

CfE, Literacy, Literacy and English, Literacy and Gàidhlig

Scotland’s Biggest Book Swap – Get Involved!

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ScottishPower in conjunction with the Edinburgh International Book Festival is celebrating the fifth year of Swap Shop – an award winning project that encourages primary school children to read more and recycle old books.

Swap Shop is great fun and importantly really easy to run. Each pupil is encouraged to bring in a book, which they then swap with their schoolmates. This provides a perfect opportunity to get the whole school together, swapping books and sharing stories.  Many pupils might want to swap their books for ones from the class above, developing their literacy skills and enabling them to discover new stories. Five lucky schools will also get the chance to win an exclusive visit from a children’s author attending the Edinburgh International Book Festival. 

A key aspect of Swap Shop is to encourage awareness amongst school pupils about the work being done by Scottish charities. For the third year, children’s charity Aberlour has been selected as the official charity partner. Aberlour operates across Scotland, providing a range of services, support and advice for vulnerable children, young people and families. All monies raised by children taking part in the 2013 Swap Shop will go directly to the charity.

To be in with a chance of winning one of five author visits, schools are invited to complete their Swap Shop by the end of the summer term. For further information on registration which closes on Friday 24th May and taking part please contact Emma Paul at Stripe Communications on 0131 561 8628 or swapshop@stripecommunications.com.

Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Responsibility of All, Supporting Learners, Universal Support

Rights, Support and Wellbeing Team

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The Team will support local authorities and learning establishments to ensure the rights, support and wellbeing of all Scotland’s children and young people are recognised and realised.

RIGHTS
– What every child and young person is entitled to
– What we do to ensure children and young people’s rights are recognised and realised

SUPPORT
– What we do, as professionals, to facilitate full participation, addressing disadvantage and inequality
– What we do to support professionals in realising their role within ‘responsibility of all’

WELLBEING
– What we do to secure and maintain the wellbeing of children and young people particularly the most vulnerable

Continue reading Rights, Support and Wellbeing Team →

Health and wellbeing, Responsibility of All

Glasgow 2014 unveils ticketing ambitions for accessible and family-friendly Games

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Two-thirds of tickets to experience the action and thrills of the Commonwealth Games will be priced at £25 or less, it was revealed today.

Announcing a family-friendly ticketing strategy focused on delivering packed stadia and a ‘Games for Everyone’, the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee unveiled that access to sporting events at one of the world’s greatest multi-sports Games will start from just £15 for adults.

Half-price concessions will also be available for children – a Commonwealth Games first – and the over-60s.

The price of a ticket includes access to public transport in the local area on the day of your event.

At a launch briefing in the city today attended by Olympic and Commonwealth athletes, Glasgow 2014 promised a simple and accessible ticketing process and pledged that at least 70% of all tickets to all sporting events would be available to the public.

The Games Competition Schedule was revealed for the first time and it gets off to a flying start with 12 sports on Day One, including Swimming and Track Cycling. The first weekend will be very busy with both Rugby Sevens and Weightlifting expected to attract peak audiences.

It was also announced that the ticketing process will launch on August 19, 2013 and ticket applications can be made online with debit or credit cards. A postal application service will also be available.

Commonwealth and Olympic Scots athletes David Carry and Rhona Simpson backed the Ticketing Programme and joined Olympic, Commonwealth and World champion triple-jumper Jonathan Edwards at the launch this morning.

Announcing the Ticketing Programme, Glasgow 2014 Chairman, Lord Smith of Kelvin, said:

“This is a big day for Glasgow 2014 and one that has taken a substantial amount of planning. This isn’t just about selling a million tickets. It’s about making the Games accessible to all. We have spent many months designing a Ticketing Programme that reflects the vision and values of Glasgow 2014. Today’s the day we set out our stall.

“We have listened and learnt from previous Commonwealth Games as well as the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We’ve also conducted our own research. We’ve thought long and hard about the pricing, the process by which you’ll buy tickets, but also the way we communicate.

“This is a Games for everyone. And by that I mean success not just for the Organising Committee and our partners, but also for the people of Glasgow, Scotland and the Commonwealth.”

Glasgow 2014 Deputy Chief Executive, Ty Speer, said:

“Our focus in developing a Ticketing Programme for Glasgow 2014 has been to make these the most family-friendly, accessible and inclusive Games we possibly can. That means having a simple, straightforward application process, a pricing structure which is accessible and methods of payment which do not exclude anyone.

“Glasgow 2014 presents the opportunity to enjoy a festival of world-class sport. We want to have our venues packed with people who can experience the excitement and action of elite sporting performances at first hand and be part of the action.

“We want to be a good host and give the warm and passionate welcome that we owe to our athletes and which they deserve. Our Ticketing Programme is designed to make sure that happens.”

Three-time Olympian and double Commonwealth champion swimmer, David Carry, said:

“Having experienced the spine-tingling and unforgettable atmosphere of London 2012 and the passion of crowds at previous Commonwealth Games, I have no doubt that the athletes hoping to take part in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will have something incredibly special to look forward to.

“Having packed stadia and enthusiastic crowds is what absolutely makes for an electric atmosphere at competition time – and that can really impact positively on performance. I know Scotland’s swimmers will enjoy the home advantage of a Scottish crowd shouting, screaming and supporting.

“I also know that Scottish supporters will make the Games a warm, welcoming and once-in-a-lifetime experience for all the athletes. It will be a really special time for them and for Glasgow. It is great that the ticketing policy at Glasgow 2014 is making it as accessible as possible for people to be part of making Glasgow 2014 the wonderful celebration of sport that I know it will be.”

Everyone will have the opportunity to apply for the tickets they want over a four week period when the ticketing process opens later this summer.

An allocation of tickets has also been earmarked for special distribution to identified groups and communities. More details will be announced this summer.

Note to Editors

1. The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving 71 teams of
athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years. Glasgow 2014 will be the 20th Commonwealth Games and will be held from 23 July to 3 August. It will feature 17 sports in 11 days of competition with 261 medal events on show. The Games will play host to 4500 athletes and sell 1,000,000 tickets with the event aided by an army of 15,000 volunteers. Glasgow 2014 Ltd is the official name for the Organising Committee tasked with delivering the Games in partnership with the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and Commonwealth Games Scotland.

2. Glasgow 2014 family of official sponsors is Longines, SSE, Emirates, Harper Macleod, Search Consultancy, Ernst & Young, Atos, Dell, Toshiba TEC, A.G. Barr, NVT Group, RGS, Trespass, Riedel and Ticketmaster.

3. The first phase of ticket sales will be open from 19 August to 16 September. It makes no difference whether you apply on the first or last day of this four-week window. For high demand sports and sessions that are oversold – such as the 100m final – an independent and computerised draw will select the successful applications.

4. You apply for the tickets you want. It’s not a lucky dip – there is absolutely no chance of requesting tickets for, say, Netball and being given tickets for Table Tennis. Similarly, if you ask for four tickets, you will either be successful or unsuccessful in your application for four tickets. You will not be offered one, two or three tickets.

5. A minimum of 70% of tickets for every sport session will go to the general public. This is different to most sporting events that use a general average – so some events might be as low as 30% public tickets, where others are 95%. For Glasgow 2014, whether it’s a preliminary session on the first day or the 100m final, a minimum of 70% of sport tickets will be available for general sale.

6. A pricing example is the 100m final: Tickets for this start at £20, and go up to £30, £40, £60, £70 and top price of £90. A half-price concession ticket of £15 applies to the £30 ticket. Take an earlier round of the Athletics competition, and the prices look like this: prices start at £15 (remember, this is the entry price for EVERY SPORT), and then £20, £30 and £40. Half price concessions apply across all these prices. (Concessions are available at all sporting events, but are limited for the medal sessions).

7. For Athletics, there are six price categories, but for most events we’ve just gone for two or three price bands to keep it simple.

8. For example Rugby Sevens and Rhythmic Gymnastics prelims have the same prices: £15 (£7.50 concession), £20 (£10 concession) and £25 (£12.50 concession); Weightlifting final would cost you £20 (£10 for kids) or £25.

9. Only 8% of tickets are set aside for sponsors. Our sponsors pay for tickets like everybody else.

10. Prices for the Opening Ceremony start at £40 and the Closing Ceremony at £30.

11. Ticket applications will be accepted online or with a Ticket Application Form (available within the Ticketing Guide which is published on 23 July).

Sciences, Technologies

How the Twig Summer Challenge fits CfE

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This summer Twig on Glow is offering Scottish students a chance to tackle some ‘big questions’ that even scientists struggle to answer.

How will humans continue to evolve?
Are we alone in the Universe?
Is plastic mankind’s worst invention?

Using Twig’s film editing software, Twig Studio, students can create their own short films in answer the these ‘ungoogleable’ questions. This is a great opportunity for students to demonstrate a secure knowledge and understanding of the big ideas and concepts of the sciences.

Visit this page to see how the Twig Summer Challenge fits experiences and outcomes for Science and Technologies at levels 2,3 and 4.

Responsibility of All

Event: The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games – A rich context to inspire learning

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When? 08:45 – 15:00, Monday, 17 June 2013
Where? Commonwealth House, Glasgow

Who should attend?
School leaders, local authority staff and those with a whole school responsibility for Games Legacy, including cluster initiatives and wider curriculum remits related to the Games (e.g. health and wellbeing).

About the event:
On Monday 17th June, there will be just 401 days before the biggest multi-sport and cultural event ever to come to Scotland opens in Glasgow. That’s less than 58 weeks! Fortunately, education establishment across the country are already preparing to incorporate learning opportunities around the Commonwealth Games in the next academic year and this event is designed to help you join their number.

It will also showcase other inspirational programmes and initiatives available to teachers to stimulate learning around the Commonwealth Games. A variety of engaging workshops delivered by practitioners and organisations experienced in Games Legacy work will provide practical, hands-on exemplification on the impact of the Games as a context for learning. Workshops will include:

• exemplification from primary and secondary schools,
• an outline of the latest curriculum developments in the areas of health and well-being, numeracy and literacy by Education Scotland,
• funding opportunities around food education in the context of the Games,
• international education and partnerships
• cluster and local authority initiatives.

A number of prominent speakers, including David Grevemberg (CEO, Glasgow 2014) will provide inspirational addresses and testimonies for anyone who seeks to use the Games as a unique opportunity in education.

How to register:
We invite you to join us for an inspirational day of sharing and collaborative thinking around a variety of exciting opportunities by registering for the event on line (http://bit.ly/GOSEvent-17June) or directly with Diane Carson: Diane.Carson@educationscotland.gov.uk

Health and wellbeing

Totally Tatties

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Royal Northern Countryside Initiative have been running a ‘Totally Tattie’ project. There are 29 classes taking part which amounts to 629 pupils throughout Morary and Aberdeenshire, learning where their food comes from.

Each class has a link volunteer farmer who is helping the class with their project. The pupils have a chance to see the different stages of growth development of their tatties.

Many of the schools have contacted us to say that both teachers and pupils thoroughly enjoy having the farmer come to school and some strong bonds have formed. Here are some quotes from teachers:

“We had a very successful visit from Jim our farmer yesterday to plant our tatties”
“We had a very successful visit from our farmer Ian. He helped and advised both our P3 classes with the planting of our tatties. The children are all very enthusiastic so even if we don’t get a bumper crop it will have been a very worthwhile project!!!”
“We had great fun and the potatoes are planted now and ready to grow and the children learnt so much.”
Aileen Christie, RNCI Project Manager, Tel: 07716424147 Email info@rnci.co.uk

CfE, Expressive Arts, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Responsibility of All

Choices for Life Online 2013

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Choices for Life Online is pleased to announce its first event for the 2013 – 2014 school year!

The live broadcast is aimed at all P7 pupils and their teachers in Scotland with a focus around the risks and dangers of alcohol, negative peer pressure and substance misuse.
Choices for Life provides credible information to our young people on a range of important issues facing them in 21st Century Scotland in an inclusive, engaging and thought-provoking manner, to help them make positive lifestyle decisions and maximise their future potential.

Join us to see drama, video clips, music and have the opportunity to join a Glow Chat where pupils can comment on what they have seen in relation to key themes (drugs, alcohol and tobacco).

Watch ‘Liam’s Story’ which explores the issues around negative peer pressure and smoking. After this specially commissioned film there will be a chance for you to ask questions to a panel of studio guests examining the range of issues,including family,negative peer pressure, substance misuse, aspirations and regret.
There are also teaching resources available on the website to help you have a classroom discussion about Liam’s Story or do some further activities around the drama – Teaching Resources

The event will be live and presented by Mark Martin and Laura Marks from our very own Choices for Life TV studio and will also include some other fantastic video clips and messages from other inspirational role models and sporting stars.

Choices for Life Online is pleased to announce its first event for the 2013 – 2014 school year!

The live broadcast is aimed at all P7 pupils and their teachers in Scotland with a focus around the risks and dangers of alcohol, negative peer pressure and substance misuse.
Choices for Life provides credible information to our young people on a range of important issues facing them in 21st Century Scotland in an inclusive, engaging and thought-provoking manner, to help them make positive lifestyle decisions and maximise their future potential.

Join us to see drama, video clips, music and have the opportunity to join a Glow Chat where pupils can comment on what they have seen in relation to key themes (drugs, alcohol and tobacco).

Watch ‘Liam’s Story’ which explores the issues around negative peer pressure and smoking. After this specially commissioned film there will be a chance for you to ask questions to a panel of studio guests examining the range of issues,including family,negative peer pressure, substance misuse, aspirations and regret.
There are also teaching resources available on the website to help you have a classroom discussion about Liam’s Story or do some further activities around the drama – Teaching Resources

The event will be live and presented by Mark Martin and Laura Marks from our very own Choices for Life TV studio and will also include some other fantastic video clips and messages from other inspirational role models and sporting stars.

We look forward to hearing from you on the day !

The event will be delivered twice on the same day, to maximise and facilitate as many pupils as possible to view. Sign up for Wednesday 20th November – Morning Event at 10.30am OR Wednesday 20th November – Afternoon Event at 1.30pm.

We look forward to hearing from you on the day!

CfE, Health and wellbeing

Gone – An interactive, cross curricular alcohol education resource

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Join us in Glow TV on Wednesday 15th May at 4pm for a Health and Wellbeing event, looking at the themes of growing up, the changing nature of friendships, pressures and choices, alcohol use, s*xting and resilience. It is aimed at pupils in second year of secondary school.

Gone is an interactive, cross curricular alcohol education resource which has been developed by NHS Forth Valley in conjunction with its partner education authorities.

The programme examines 4 characters as they move from primary school to secondary school and follows them through to S3. It uses a range of mediums to engage with pupils. Each lesson involves pupils viewing some short video sequence, completing tasks designed in a computer gaming format and participating in debate and discussion facilitated by the teacher. The pupils are asked, through a series of votes to predict which character will be ‘gone’ as a result of a decision involving alcohol by the end of S3. The resource is supported by a series of power points and a detailed teacher guide.

This session aims to introduce practitioners to an innovative resource which explores a range of health and wellbeing issues in a creative and engaging way.

Please note; The Glow Meet will be most applicable to secondary practitioners, pupil support staff and senior managers in secondary schools.

Sign up and join us in Glow TV – Gone – An interactive, cross curricular alcohol education resource

You can also subscribe to the Glow TV eCard to ensure that you never miss out on any forthcoming events.

Early Years, Glow TV, Modern Languages

SCILT – Developing Language Skills through Phonics

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Glow TV along with the SCILT Professional Learning Community is delighted to host a range of events beginning on Tuesday 14th May at 4pm.

Presented by Lynne Jones and Meryl James, Professional Development Officers at SCILT, Scotland’s National Centre for Languages this first workshop will consider the place of phonics in Modern Language learning as well as the benefits and implications of developing phonological awareness in young language learners.

Lynne and Meryl will explore the impact that creative use of phonics can have in your classroom; not only in talking, but also in developing other language skill areas.

This event is suitable for Early Years, Primary and ASN practitioners.

Sign up and join us in Glow TV – SCILT – Developing Language Skills through Phonics

You can also subscribe to the Glow TV eCard to ensure that you never miss out on any forthcoming events.

CfE

Game On Challenge – put your goals on the map!

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Is your school or organisation planning to mark the Commonwealth Games with a specific initiative? A fun run or sports day perhaps? Getting involved in the Queen’s Baton Relay? A whole school initiative? Or is your local authority running a Mini Games programme?

No matter how big or small your Games related initiatives are we invite you to share them through the Game On Challenge and add to the excitement now building towards Glasgow 2014, the biggest multi-sporting event ever hosted in Scotland.

Benefits of taking the Game On Challenge

  • Your school/organisation will be showcased on the Game On Challenge interactive map alongside other entries from across the UK and beyond. This will provide others with ideas and inspiration for learning through the Games.
  • Every school and organisation that takes part will receive an official ‘Game On Scotland’ certificate.
  • Education establishments may also be eligible for a Game On Scotland plaque in recognition of imaginative ways they have used the Games as a context for learning.
  • All entries will be in with a chance to win exclusive Glasgow 2014 prizes.
  • Scottish schools who sign up by the 24 May will be entered into a free prize draw to receive a visit from Clyde, the official mascot for the Games.

How do we share our challenge?

Simply visit the Take the challenge page and complete the form.

Expressive Arts

Glasgow 2014 Athletes’ Village Art Competition – register your interest now!

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Game On Scotland is asking every school in Scotland to get their pupils to design posters to be placed in the rooms of the Athletes’ Village. We’ll guarantee to every individual school that takes part that their chosen artwork will be displayed in the village – your pupils’ work could end up in the bedroom of Usain Bolt, Tom Daley or any of the talented athletes coming to Scotland from all over the world.

At the end of the Games, athletes and officials will be encouraged to take your art as a gift from the people of Scotland and, excitingly, to write back to you offering their thanks.

Pre-register you interest for the competition now.

CLD, Early Years, Young people, children & families

Children and Families Team Vacancies

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Education Scotland wishes to appoint two Development Officers on secondment to the Children and Families team. The team supports quality and improvement in early years education and families from the period pre-birth onwards. Key areas of work include inspecting and reviewing pre-school education provision and developing, delivering and supporting aspects of Early Years Care and Education and Family Learning.

You can find more information about these exciting opportunities on our website.

CfE, CLD, Early Years, Young people, children & families

Early Years Matters

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Have you seen the new edition of Early Years Matters? The new edition can be read online or downloaded from the Education Scotland website.

This edition has a focus on children and families and the articles give a flavour of the wide range of work being undertaken in Scotland. We are extremely grateful to those who have contributed to this edition of Early Years Matters and we look forward to hearing your comments.

CfE, National Qualifications

Major milestone reached in delivery of new curriculum materials

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Dr Bill Maxwell, Chief Executive of Education Scotland, outlines how a major milestone has been reached in the delivery of Curriculum for Excellence.

‘Today marks the successful completion of a major programme of work designed to help support the ongoing development of the new curriculum in schools as our team in Education Scotland published the latest tranche of materials to support the new National Qualifications.  As of yesterday, all of these materials are now available on Glow.

Providing these support materials means teachers have an opportunity to see some good examples of how courses can be shaped and delivered. They provide some examples of materials which teachers can use directly in building their own courses, but we will also continue to encourage and champion the development of practitioners own teaching materials and the sharing of good practice.

We have worked with hundreds of teachers in developing this material. I am confident they will become a valuable resource for many others across the country, as have many of the earlier support materials we have already published.

Local authorities and schools are already making good use of the materials we have already issued and our inspections are increasingly providing us with real-life examples of how schools are rising to the challenge of increased expectations brought about by the implementation of the new curriculum.  We will continue to work with teachers and respond to their feedback on these materials to help ensure we are delivering the best support resources possible.

As of the end of April, 95 sets of web-based course materials have been published across the full range of National 4 and National 5 qualifications.  This adds to 69 sets of advice and guidance notes which are already available as well as 77 professional focus papers, covering all subjects at National 4 and National 5.  

I’m pleased to report this major milestone has been achieved on target as we continue to deliver resource materials in support of the new curriculum.’

Dr Bill Maxwell, Chief Executive, Education Scotland