What has happened so far
The first phase of the programme (April 2005-May 2006) saw an initial review of current guidance 3-15, with an eye to the implications for 15-18. Starting points for this work were:
- 3-5 curriculum
- 5-14 guidelines
- Standard Grade
- NQ.
Small groups of teaching practitioners carried out this task with input from LTS, SQA and HMIE. They reviewed:
- Expressive arts
- Health and wellbeing
- Languages
- Maths
- Personal and social development (PSD)
- Religious and moral education (RME)
- Science
- Social subjects
- Technology.
The groups used evaluative questions and the results of research to explore the implications of simplifying and prioritising the existing curriculum.
Early years and additional support needs (ASN) have also been given careful consideration throughout the evolution of this work.
Programme Board
The Curriculum Review Programme Board was established by the Scottish Executive in November 2004 for a period of three years to work on the development of the Curriculum Review Group's Curriculum for Excellence, and the Ministerial response to that document. The Board came to a close in November 2007.
The Board gave strategic direction to the work involved in turning the nation’s aspirations into reality. Importantly it set the tone for the curriculum review, offering powerful and well based advice on how to bring about change through engagement rather than prescription.
New Board to deliver Curriculum for Excellence
A new Management Board has been established to take work forward through the next phases of Curriculum for Excellence.
Purposes of the new curriculum
A range of actions has occurred to move forward the purposes of the new curriculum. This has included activity such as:
- A review carried out by many teachers and schools across Scotland to consider existing practices against the purposes and principles to ensure methods and content achieve the four capacities.
- Local authorities working in partnership with neighbouring authorities to develop a wide range of collaborative Curriculum for Excellence projects. Examples are highlighted in the Curriculum for Excellence newsletter 6.
- Engagement through seminars, focus groups and events to broadly promote Curriculum for Excellence and gather valuable feedback from the education community and practitioners in all sectors.
Phased release of draft curricular guidance
Following the release of draft experience and outcomes for the new curriculum, the feedback process has included:
Online questionnaires
Schools have been building on current practice, further developing the quality of learning and teaching in ways that promote the development of all four capacities. Feedback on the draft experiences and outcomes is being collected via online questionnaires for all curricular areas. Findings will be used to inform other aspects of the programme, including CPD needs, and will help shape the finalisation of draft guidance.Trialling
LTS Area Advisers have been liaising with local authorities to organise Curriculum for Excellence events aimed at sharing the purposes, principles and practicalities of trialling the draft experiences and outcomes. The events provide an opportunity to plan the process of trialling the draft experiences and outcomes in schools over the coming months.
The trialling process was launched on 22 January with an event in Inverurie, focusing on the draft science experiences and outcomes. Further events looking at the trialling of the draft experiences and outcomes in maths and numeracy, modern languages, expressive arts, social studies, Gaelic and Literacy and English, health and well being and religious and moral education/religious education in Roman Catholic schools have taken place since.
Feedback from the trials in schools will be invaluable to the Curriculum for Excellence programme as we refine the draft experiences and outcomes before final publication.
Focus groups
A number of different stakeholder groups have been identified whose views may not necessarily be captured via the questionnaire or trialling. These include parents and employers. LTS will run a series of focus groups with people drawn from these groups who will also have an opportunity to express their views on the draft experiences and outcomes.
The focus groups will be asked to comment on the draft experiences and outcomes using a series of questions addressing the likely areas of particular concern and interest to the group concerned.
Findings from the feedback will be used to inform other aspects of the programme, including CPD needs, and will help shape the finalisation of draft guidance.New Management Board
Partners establish new Management Board to deliver the next phases of Curriculum for Excellence.