Curriculum for Excellence is the Scottish curriculum review programme which aims to produce a streamlined educational experience for pupils from 3 to 18 years old.
Curriculum for Excellence aims to enable all pupils to develop their capacities as: successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors to society.
Click the link below to find out more about the 4 capacities.
Curriculum for Excellence guidance has now replaced the 5-14 National Guidelines.
INFORMATION FOR OUR PARENTS ABOUT CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE
What is the Curriculum for Excellence?
Scottish education is changing with the introduction of Curriculum for Excellence. It aims to:
Simplify and prioritise the current curriculum and focus learning and teaching upon the child and around the four capacities: * Successful Learners *Confident Individuals *Responsible Citizens *Effective Contributors
The implementation of Curriculum for Excellence in Scottish Schools will provide greater choice and opportunity for pupils. Our children and young people will be encouraged to progress their learning through Experiences and Outcomes in the following key areas: * Expressive Arts * Health and wellbeing * Languages * Mathematics *Religious and Moral Education * Sciences *Social Studies * Technologies
Above all, a key aim of Curriculum for Excellence is to encourage and support parents and carers to play an active role in their child’s learning.
Why has the curriculum changed?
*To help children and young people develop skills for life and the skills and knowledge employers need now and in the future.
*To adapt what is taught and how it is taught to suit our ever changing world.
How does it affect your child?
You will begin to notice some changes to the way we assess your child. There are two different types:
Summative Assessment– focuses on measuring current performance and how successful the learner has been. It tends to come at the end of a topic or a piece of work.
Formative Assessment– is used to gather information about your child’s learning and in turn helps the teacher to plan, teach and offer support to your child.
Learning and Teaching
We plan responsive learning activities to engage our pupils, to challenge them in all aspects of their learning; from planning to assessment.
Active Learning– pupils from P1-P7 are more actively involved in their learning and learn through play, meaningful experiences and group work.
Cross-curricular topics/Interdisciplinary learning– pupils are taught topics that will incorporate a range of different curricular areas.
Learning Outdoors– pupils will be offered opportunities to participate in lessons outside.
Learning Strategies
In our school we are using a range of different strategies in our classrooms to encourage our pupils to become more responsible and confident with their learning. We are piloting these strategies in the curricular area of Mathematics.
WALT (We are learning to)- telling our pupils what they are going to learn
WILF (What I am looking for)- knowing what to do to achieve the learning intention.
Self and Peer Assessment– pupils assess their own and other pupils’ work.
Target Setting– our pupils identify their own learning needs and work towards achieving these.
Feedback– the teacher can do this in two ways. Firstly by speaking to the child and offering them advice on how to improve and what they have achieved. Secondly it can be written in the form of 2 stars (good points) and a wish (an area for improvement) or using coloured pens to highlight the child’s strengths.
What does this mean for our school?
We fully expect all our pupils to become more successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens and that our pupils feel motivated, engaged and encouraged as a result of the teaching and learning experiences we offer to our pupils.
What you can do for your child?
Your role in your child’s learning is essential. Fiona Hyslop (MSP) the former Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning said:
‘Parents have a key role to play in the success of Curriculum for Excellence and what it can bring to their children. By working together with schools, nurseries and others involved in Curriculum for Excellence, parents can make a real difference. All parents want the best for their children. Curriculum for Excellence aims to achieve the best for all children and young people in Scotland.’
Further Information
If you require any further information please contact the school or use the websites below.
