What is Curriculum for Excellence?

 Curriculum for Excellence aims to achieve a transformation in education in Scotland by providing an improved, more flexible and enriched curriculum for all children and young people from 3-18.

The curriculum includes all of the experiences, which are planned for children and young people through their education, wherever they are being educated. All schools and nurseries in North Lanarkshire are working hard to raise standards so that children and young people will develop all of the skills necessary to continue to be successful when leaving school and entering the world of higher education, training or work.

Curriculum for Excellence is underpinned by the values inscribed on the mace of the Scottish Parliament – wisdom, justice, compassion and integrity. The purpose of Curriculum for Excellence is encapsulated in the four capacities – to enable each child or young person to be:

• a successful learner
• a confident individual
• a responsible citizen
• an effective contributor

What are the curriculum areas in Curriculum for Excellence?

There are eight curricular areas:

Religious and Moral Education                  Expressive Arts

Health and Well Being                                   Sciences

Languages (Literacy)                                      Social Studies

Mathematics (Numeracy)                             Technologies

Importantly, literacy and numeracy are given added importance because these skills are so vital in everyday life. All teachers will have responsibility to teach literacy and numeracy. Additionally, health and well-being is the responsibility of all and should permeate the whole curriculum.

Learning is divided into two phases

The GENERAL PHASE is from nursery to the end of Secondary School Year 3. Learning is divided into levels. These levels have replaced the 5-14 levels that you may be familiar with. The new

levels are as follows:

 

Level	Stage
Early	The pre-school years and P1, or later for some.
First	To the end of P4, but earlier or later for some.
Second	To the end of P7, but earlier or later for some.
Third and Fourth	S1-S3, but earlier for some.
Senior PhaseThe SENIOR PHASE is from Secondary School Year 4 and beyond.	S4 –S6 and college or other means of study.