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 and an Effective Contributor.

 

What are the curriculum areas in Curriculum for Excellence?

There are eight curriculum areas:-

Expressive Arts                   Religious and Moral Education

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.

 

Learning is divided into two phases. The GENERAL PHASE is from nursery to the end of Secondary School Year. Learning is divided into levels. These levels will replace the 5-14 levels that you are 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 P.4 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

 

The SECOND PHASE is from Secondary School Year 4 and beyond Senior Phase

S4 – S6 and college or other means of study.