This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Future of education goes online
02/12/2002
A website showcasing an Executive programme to help
shape the future of education in our schools was launched
today.
The Future Learning and Teaching programme supports
forward-looking approaches to education and aims to improve
learning experiences and achievement for pupils across the
country. The website launched today showcases innovative
pilot projects and aims to inspire teachers, education
managers and local authorities throughout Scotland and
promote ideas for
different future learning and teaching models.
After meeting with pupils from three schools involved in
Future Learning and Teaching projects - Keith Grammar
School, Braidhurst High School and Bellshill Academy - at
Moray Council chambers in Elgin, Deputy Education Minister
Nicol Stephen said:
"The Future Learning and Teaching programme supports new
and forward-looking approaches to delivering education. It
encourages schools and education authorities to set up
projects to develop the skills, team spirit and community
involvement of young people.
"The website highlights the 15 projects currently being
piloted that promote new approaches to meeting the needs of
pupils. It will also be a useful resource for teachers,
parents and pupils. It aims to inspire others to come up
with their own ideas that could be used across the country
in future years.
"The Future Learning and Teaching programme is one way
of helping schools to deliver on our National Priorities in
Education.
"We will evaluate Future Learning and Teaching projects
and incorporate the best ideas into future education
policy. It is important to prepare children for the future
needs of business and industry by giving them the leading
edge skills required in the 21st Century."
Mr Stephen continued:
"I have been impressed by the enthusiasm and commitment
of pupils involved in the projects.
"I am grateful to those involved with the website launch
for their hard work and creative energy. Together we are
creating learning and teaching environments for the
future."
Mr Stephen met with pupils from Keith Grammar School,
Braidhurst High School in Motherwell and Bellshill Academy
to hear about their own experiences through their schools'
involvement with Future Learning and Teaching. Through a
videolink with Edinburgh City Chambers, he also heard about
the Mindscreen Entrepreneurial Spirit project, which aims
to engage disaffected young people in 6 schools (in
Edinburgh, East Ayrshire and Moray) through an inclusive
and flexible curriculum based on following a two-year
Entrepreneurial Spirit programme, in partnership with Young
Enterprise Scotland and other stakeholders.
The Future Learning and Teaching website can be found at
www.flatprojects.org.uk 15 Future Learning and Teaching
projects are featured on the website which will also
contain project evaluation reports when these become
available.
Future Learning and Teaching supports project start-up
costs, co-ordination, development and evaluation, but not
direct running costs. It is aimed mainly at primary and
secondary schools, although some projects also include
pre-school centres. Projects can have a local or
national
focus. Future Learning and Teaching is being put into
place to meet the Scottish Executive's 'Working Together
for Scotland - a Programme for Government' to support pilot
'future school projects', developing evaluation plans by
2002.
Future Learning and Teaching project themes include:
* Developing flexible approaches to learning and
teaching which meet the needs of individual pupils
* Raising attainment
* Closing the gap
* Easing the transition between primary and secondary
sectors
* Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
The 'National Priorities In Education', as approved by
the Scottish Parliament in December 2000, are defined under
the following headings:
1. Achievement and Attainment
2. Framework for Learning
3. Inclusion and Equality
4. Values and Citizenship
5. Learning for Life
http://www.nationalpriorities.org.uk
During the National Debate for Education, many people
reflected on the need for greater curriculum flexibility
and the need for local innovation and solutions to local
challenges and circumstances.