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Preparing for the future Educating our children for a changing world

It’s all changed ……. ….… since I was at school  Changes in what is being taught  Changes in how children are taught  Different kinds of lessons  Children knowing more about some things than we do.

Keeping up with change  ‘Jobs’ and work patterns  Technology and the internet  Environmental concerns  Health and wellbeing  Living together in a ‘smaller’ world

What is education for?  Learning to be  Learning to learn  Learning to live with others  Learning to do UNESCO: Aims of Education

The future of education in Scotland The hope is that all Scottish children become  confident individuals  successful learners  responsible citizens  effective contributors to work and society

Discussion Point  Make a list of three activities that you already do at home with your children to help them achieve the four purposes.  What three things do you think that your child’s school does well to help them achieve these.

Important Principles  Challenge and enjoyment  Breadth  Progression  Depth  Providing individual choice  Coherent  Relevant

Outside school A lot of learning also takes place outside school  at home and within the family  at clubs and in community settings  individually and with friends All of these experiences contribute to a child’s learning and development.

What do we mean by ‘Curriculum’? What children and young people do in school  lessons - in primary schools to develop basic skills of reading, writing and mathematics - in secondary schools subjects leading to examinations and qualifications  day to day life of the school community

The Curriculum for Excellence  A framework for change  Builds on existing good practice  Not a single document – allows for flexibility  An ongoing process of review and change

Who is involved?  Scottish Government  Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS)  HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE)  Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)  education authorities, schools, colleges, professional associations, researchers.

Looking at the curriculum differently.  Ethos and life of the school as a community  Curriculum areas and subjects  Interdisciplinary topics and studies  Opportunities for personal achievement

What will this mean for schools?  Learning will take place through planned experiences linking different ‘subject’ areas  Experiences focussed on achieving specific outcomes in terms of knowledge, skills and understanding

health and wellbeing languages mathematics sciences social studies expressive arts technologies religious and moral education

What is actually happening?  Specialist groups have developed draft experiences and outcomes in 8 areas for consultation.  Schools and teachers reviewing existing practice trying out new approaches  Implications for assessment, achievement and qualifications being considered.

Timescales By June 2008 draft outcomes and experiences available for all areas. Throughout 2008/09 trials and focus groups to test these. From 2009/10 all schools work on developing new curriculum.

How can I get involved?  Look out for information about changes  Discuss with your child what they are doing in school.  Think about what you can do to help achieve the four main purposes of education  Try to get involved in what is happening in your child’s school.

How can parents help? SPICE Support Patience Interest Challenge Encouragement