The Education System in Scotland “A Curriculum for Excellence” Landskrona, September 2014

What is Curriculum for Excellence? The Curriculum for Excellence aims to achieve a transformation in education in Scotland by providing a coherent, more flexible and enriched curriculum from 3 to 18. The new curriculum aims to help every learner develop knowledge, skills and attributes for learning, life and work, which are encapsulated in the 4 “capacities”: Responsible citizens Confident individuals Successful learners Effective contributors

The Principles for Curriculum Design The curriculum should be designed on the basis of the following principles: Challenge and enjoyment Breadth Progression Depth Personalisation and choice Coherence Relevance

Curriculum areas and subjects There are 8 curriculum areas in total in the Curriculum for Excellence: Expressive Arts Health and well-being Languages Mathematics Religious and moral education Sciences Social subjects Technologies

Interdisciplinary Learning Interdisciplinary Learning can provide the learner with relevant, challenging and enjoyable learning experiences: It can take the form of individual, one-off projects or longer courses of study. It is planned around clear purposes. It ensures progression in skills and in knowledge and understanding. It meets the needs of all learners. In Balerno High School every department has at least one IDL project with another department across the school.

Ethos and life of the school For staff: Staff should be open, positive, and supportive where pupils feel that they are listened to. Staff should promote a climate in which all pupils feel safe and secure. Staff need to be sensitive and responsive to each pupil and their well-being. For pupils: Pupils should be encouraged to participate responsibly in the life and work of the school. Pupils should also contribute to decision making and being role models for others. Pupils should offer support and service in the wider school community.

New Qualifications in Scotland from 2014 The new Qualifications were introduced in 2014 by the SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority). Nationals 3, 4 and 5 replace the “Standard Grades.”(GCSE in England) Nationals 3 and 4 are internally assessed, with no external exam. National 5 has internal assessments and an external exam. The New Higher course started in August 2014 and the first exams of these new qualifications will be in May 2015. Highers are the equivalent in the English system of A levels. Advanced Higher is aimed for those pupils wishing to study a particular subject at college/university.