Curriculum for Excellence

Strategic Vision and Key Principles for Assessment

Information is now available on the Curriculum for Excellence website Curriculum for Excellence on the strategic vision and key principles of assessment in Curriculum for Excellence.

In June, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop, announced the future shape of national qualifications in Scotland and indicated that this would be followed by proposals for assessment in Curriculum for Excellence including the purposes and principles of assessment, standards and expectations, assessing progress, reporting and monitoring standards. At the Scottish Learning Festival, held on the 23rd September 2009, the Cabinet Secretary set out those proposals which have been agreed by all members of the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board.

The main differences from the existing assessment arrangements are that:

Assessment practices will follow and support the new curriculum. This will promote higher quality learning and teaching and give more autonomy and professional responsibility to teachers.
Standards and expectations will be defined in a way that reflects the principles of Curriculum for Excellence. This will support greater breadth and depth of learning and place a greater focus on skills development (including higher order skills).
A national system of quality assurance and moderation for 3-18 will be developed to support teachers in achieving greater consistency and confidence in their professional judgements.
A National Assessment Resource will help teachers to achieve greater consistency and understanding in their professional judgements. There will also be a major focus on CPD to help teachers develop the skills required.

The following items providing further information can be accessed through the Curriculum for Excellence website Curriculum for Excellence

The Strategic Vision and Key Principles document
A Frequently Asked Questions document

A Framework for Assessment which will provide more detailed guidance on assessment approaches will be published later this year.

Also of Interest:

Angus Council Education Department Strategy Papers for Literacy (75 KB PDF) and Numeracy (131 KB PDF).

Curriculum for Excellence – Angus: a letter to parents (26 KB PDF).

Scottish Parent Teacher Council (SPTC) Conference – Sat 7 November 2009:

Web Links

Parentzone:: Read about Curriculum for Excellence on the Parentzone web site (part of the Learning and Teaching Scotland site)
Learning and Teaching Scotland:: The Curriculum for Excellence area of the web site which challenges us to think differently about the curriculum.

Leaflets

Qualifications are Changing – A Guide for Parents and Carers: This booklet, produced by the Scottish Qualifications Authority, is designed to answer important questions about the new qualification structure.

Curriculum for Excellence: A Guide for Parents and Carers: LTS leaflet giving a brief explanation of what the Curriculum for Excellence is and why it is being introduced.

Curriculum for Excellence Fact File:

Angus Council Education Service Leaflets:

Curriculum for Excellence: Leaflet explaining why Scottish education is changing.
Co-operative Learning: Explaining what is meant by co-operative learning.
Interdisciplinary Learning: Information regarding the principals of interdisciplinary learning.
Numeracy and a Curriculum for Excellence: Placing Numeracy in the context of Curriculum for Learning.
Skills for Life, Skills for Work:: Vocational Learning in Angus For pupils aged 14+, an explanation of the benefits of vocational learning.