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Curriculum for Excellence launch
02/04/2009
Scotland's biggest reform of its education system in a generation is now fully underway with the formal launch of guidance for teachers at an event in Stirling today.
Two ministers, Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, and Keith Brown, Minister for Schools and Skills, visited Raploch Community Campus for the launch.
Ms Hyslop said:
"Today we are marking the reform of the Scottish education system as we prepare our young people for the challenges of life in the 21st Century. The reforms are intended to raise standards by improving learning and teaching with literacy and numeracy a key focus. They will help our young people to become:
- Successful learners with the motivation for learning
- Confident individuals with physical mental and emotional wellbeing and self respect
- Responsible citizens with respect for others
- Effective contributors who can communicate, solve problems and be enterprising and creative.
"Scotland already performs well on the world education stage but we must do better. Education will be provided suited to the needs of individual pupils in a modern world with teachers provided with the freedom to develop quality teaching and learning approaches within their own schools."
"These reforms mark the hard work of many people who share my commitment to improving the Scottish education system. The launch of this guidance, known within the teaching profession as the Curriculum for Excellence Experiences and Outcomes, gives teachers the opportunity to reflect a modern society in the classroom."
Last month, the Cabinet Secretary announced an additional 100 teachers to oversee implementation of this new approach to learning and teaching at a cost of £4 million. In June, an announcement will also be made on the new qualifications which will replace Standard Grades.
Bernard McLeary, Chief Executive of Learning and Teaching Scotland, the lead partner responsible for developing the new curriculum, said the publication of the guidance marked a pivotal point in Scottish education.
He said: "Scotland has always been ambitious in its education system and the new curriculum guidance will offer learners challenging, exciting and motivating experiences that will build the knowledge and skills they will need in modern society."
Graeme Hyslop, Principal of Langside College in Glasgow and who leads Scotland's Colleges on curriculum matters, said:
"This launch is a welcome step on the road to what will be the first comprehensive learning system in Europe. Scotland's Colleges are proud to be a full partner in this exciting transformation in Scotland's learning journey."
Irene Matier, President of the Association of Headteachers and Deputes Scotland, said:
"AHDS has been impressed by the openness and commitment displayed by all partners to ensure that many voices from the profession have been involved. It has been a long process but one which has delivered a product of which we can all be proud."
Ken Cunningham, General Secretary, School Leaders Scotland, said:
"School Leaders Scotland is pleased that another important step in the development of the Curriculum for Excellence takes place today. It is another illustration of the way in which Government is listening and responding to concerns by teachers and school leaders. We hope that time will now be available to assimilate these and work them into their own courses and schools."
David Cameron, President of the Association of Directors of Education Scotland, said:
"ADES welcomes the issue of the Experiences and Outcomes for Curriculum for Excellence They will provide much of the structure that schools and teachers have been looking for to support implementation. We all need to give time to the consideration of these while continuing to focus on the improvements in learning and teaching which will make the real difference for our young people."
Janet Brown, Chief Executive of SQA, said:
"SQA warmly welcomes the publication of the outcomes and experiences and very much looks forward to drawing upon them in developing the next generation of National Qualifications."
Councillor Isabel Hutton, COSLA's Spokesperson for Education, Children and young People, said:
"Local government in Scotland is firmly committed to improving learning and life outcomes for all our children and young people, regardless of their background or abilities. Our councils are facing many competing demands on resources. However, we wish to ensure the successful delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence so that our children have learning experiences which are interesting, rewarding and challenging for them and which equip them with the skills and confidence to meet their ambitions and aspirations. The launch of this guidance is an important step along the road to success."
Damien Yeates, Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland, said:
"Laying these strong foundations in schools - by developing the skills Scotland needs and making effective connectivity between learning and jobs - will help develop our people and strengthen our communities, our economy and our business base."
The new approach to teaching and learning, known as Curriculum for Excellence, aims to achieve continuous learning from ages 3 to 18. Literacy and numeracy are at its heart with all teachers equally responsible for their teaching. There is also an emphasis on cross-curricular teaching.
The teaching guidance outlines from the perspective of a child or young person what they expect to have learned at appropriate stages in their education. These will guide teachers in their lesson planning.
The guidance known as Experiences and Outcomes has been developed, tested and revised in full partnership with a wide range of education experts and through engagement with a wide range of interests such as the Universities, the Royal Society of Edinburgh and employer organisations. The Minister's role has been to be assured of the quality and breadth of that process and not to determine the detailed content of the curriculum.
The Curriculum for Excellence Management Board was set up to discuss the challenges around Curriculum for Excellence. It includes representatives from: Scottish School Teachers' Association, Scottish Qualifications Authority, Skills Development Scotland, Association of Directors of Education in Scotland, HMIE, Educational Institute of Scotland, Scotland's Colleges, Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland, Society of Local Authority Chief Executives, Learning and Teaching Scotland, The Deans of Education Faculties/Departments, Colleges and Universities; School Leaders Scotland and Scottish Council of Independent Schools.