Curriculum for Excellence
Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) is Scotland’s national curriculum for children and young people aged 3 to 18. It is designed to ensure that every learner develops the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to succeed in school and later life.
The curriculum aims to help every child become:
- A Successful Learner
- A Confident Individual
- A Responsible Citizen
- An Effective Contributor
At Kildrum Primary School, we provide a wide range of learning experiences that help children develop these skills and qualities while fostering a love of learning.
What Does Learning Look Like?
Curriculum for Excellence places a strong emphasis on:
- Literacy and English
- Numeracy and Mathematics
- Health and Wellbeing
- Digital skills
- Creativity and problem-solving
- Skills for learning, life and work
Learning takes place through four key aspects of the curriculum:
- The life and ethos of the school
- Curriculum areas and subjects
- Interdisciplinary Learning (making links across subjects)
- Opportunities for personal achievement
Curriculum for Excellence Levels
Children progress through a series of curriculum levels at their own pace.
| Level | Typical Stage |
|---|---|
| Early | Nursery to Primary 1 |
| First | Primary 2 to Primary 4 |
| Second | Primary 5 to Primary 7 |
| Third and Fourth | Secondary 1 to Secondary 3 |
| Senior Phase | Secondary 4 to Secondary 6 |
Every child is unique and may achieve these levels earlier or later than expected.
Areas of Learning
Children learn across eight curriculum areas:
- Expressive Arts
- Health and Wellbeing
- Languages and Literacy
- Mathematics and Numeracy
- Religious and Moral Education
- Sciences
- Social Studies
- Technologies
These areas provide children with a broad and balanced education while helping them develop important skills for the future.
Assessment and Reporting
Assessment is an important part of learning and teaching at Kildrum Primary School. It helps teachers understand how children are progressing and ensures that learning is appropriately challenging, supportive and engaging.
Children are encouraged to be active participants in their learning. Through self and peer assessment, they learn to reflect on their progress, recognise their achievements and identify their next steps.
Teachers use a range of assessment approaches, including:
- Observation and discussion
- Classwork and learning activities
- Practical tasks and projects
- More formal assessments when appropriate
Assessment evidence is gathered from what children say, write, make and do as part of their everyday learning.
Children are also encouraged to set personal targets in Literacy, Numeracy and Health and Wellbeing, helping them take ownership of their learning and celebrate success.
Assessment approaches can be adapted to meet the needs of children who require additional support.
Keeping Parents Informed
We believe that strong communication between home and school is essential.
Parents and carers are kept informed about their child’s progress through:
- A written annual report issued in March/April
- Parent Consultation Meetings in October/November and June
- Regular communication from class teachers where appropriate
These opportunities allow parents, carers and staff to work together to celebrate achievements, discuss progress and plan next steps in learning.
Preparing Children for the Future
Curriculum for Excellence is about much more than academic achievement. At Kildrum Primary School, we aim to develop confident, resilient and responsible young people who are well prepared for the opportunities and challenges of the future.
Through high-quality learning experiences, strong relationships and a nurturing environment, we support every child to learn, grow and thrive together.
