Blueprint for Education Stage 1 Consultation Informal Consultation and Information Gathering

Blueprint Principles 1)To ensure strategic planning, effective leadership and quality assurance to bring about improvement; 2)To ensure effective partnership working; 3)To ensure that all families have access to quality early education and childcare provision; 4)To ensure all schools deliver Curriculum for Excellence, specifically, a broad curriculum, a breadth of experience, social interaction and learning experiences; 5)To ensure all learners experience smooth transitions between stages of learning, supported by the highest possible professional standards; 6)To ensure all learners in Shetland have equal opportunity throughout their educational experience to enable them to achieve their full potential; 7)To ensure that these principles are delivered within the Council’s Budget.

Teacher and Pupil Numbers

Shetland Births The numbers of live births in Shetland from 1976 to 2008 provided by the General Registrar Office for Scotland and the Information Services Division of NHS Scotland contain a number of peaks, however, the general trend has been one of decline. This is supported by the falling school rolls figures for the same time period. Projected figures provided until the year 2031 suggest a similar rate of decline with birth rates falling from 240 in 2009 to 180 in 2019, and to 140 in Overall, the projected 0-15 age population of Shetland is projected to decline by 31% over the next 22 years.

Primary Full Cost per Pupil 08/09

Secondary Full Cost per Pupil 08/09

Consultation STAGE 1 – INFORMAL CONSULTATION What is being consulted on? Primary School Options Secondary School Options Relevant Factors Who is to be consulted? Parents Pupils Staff Community Councils The main purpose of the informal consultation is to gather information and engage with communities. Any formal proposals will not be established until all the information and views collected are carefully considered.

Consultation What will happen next? STAGE 2 – CONSIDERATION OF CONSULTATION OUTCOMES STAGE 3 – FORMAL PROPOSALS Formal proposals to be put to elected members STAGE 4 – STATUTORY CONSULTATION Educational Benefits Statement Proposal Paper Notice & Consultation Period Public Meeting HMIE First Review Period Consultation Report Second Review Period STAGE 5 – FINAL REPORT

Timetable

What are the Relevant Factors? The Education Case Travel Distances and Times Future Pupil and Population Projections Community Planning and Use Rural Sustainability and Development Financial Considerations Other Alternatives Unique Local Factors

Curriculum for Excellence PRIMARY SCHOOLS In Primary Schools the curriculum will cover three stages: Early years (the pre-school years and P1 or later for some) First level (the end of P4, but earlier or later for some) Second level (to the end of P7, but earlier or later for some). SECONDARY SCHOOLS Secondary schools will use levels continuing on from the Primary. These will be: Third and Fourth Level (S1-S3, but earlier for some) which will provide a broad general education. Senior Phase (S4-6 and college or other means of study) which will be when the majority of qualifications will be taken. As young people move forward to the qualifications stage, they will be taught more subject-based material and offered courses in specific subjects. The new qualifications will be awarded in 2014, until then students will continue to sit the existing qualifications.

Curriculum for Excellence Entitlements A curriculum which is coherent from 3 to 18 A broad general education, including well planned experiences and outcomes across all the curriculum areas from early years through to S3 A senior phase of education after S3 which provides opportunities to obtain qualifications as well as to continue to develop the four capacities (successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens Opportunities to develop skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work (including career planning skills) which with a continuous focus on literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing Personal support to enable them to gain as much as possible from the opportunities which Curriculum for Excellence can provide Support in moving into positive and sustainable destinations beyond school Curriculum for Excellence sets out expectations for learning in 8 areas - Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Languages, Mathematics, Religious and moral education, Sciences, Social Studies and Technologies.

Curriculum for Excellence Some local considerations The guidelines for the 8 curricular areas have been with all schools for some time and the new curriculum will begin in August 2010 for pupils in nursery, primary and S1. Shetlands Junior High Schools have secondary departments that operate from S1 to S4. The senior phase of curriculum for excellence will for most pupils begin after S3. The majority of pupils will not take specialist subject qualifications until the senior phase. Some of the options put forward for discussion include a change to the secondary education structure in Shetland and these include changing transfer points. The following options are for consideration and we are keen to gather your views on them and other options we have identified. The first pupils to enter the Senior Phase are the current P7 and they will begin the new qualifications in August 2013.

Proposals: Viable Options Non Viable Options

Options for informal consultation for each area will appear here and are in the Option Booklet.