Curriculum for Excellence will be fully implemented by 2016. Glow, Scotland’s unique, world-leading, online network supports learners and teachers in this and plans are already in place for parents across the country to have access to Glow. 

School staff, teachers, early years workers and support staff share information to plan a child’s ‘learning journey’ from 3-18, helping their progression from nursery to primary, primary to secondary and beyond, ensuring the change is smooth. They ensure children continue to work at a pace they can cope with and with challenge, they can thrive on. 

Curriculum for Excellence balances the importance of knowledge and skills. Every child is entitled to a broad and deep general education, whatever their level and ability. Every single teacher and practitioner is responsible for literacy and numeracy from Early Level through to Senior Phase.

It develops skills for learning; life and work, bringing real life into the classroom, making learning relevant and helps young people apply lessons to their life beyond the classroom. It links knowledge in one subject area to another helping make connections in their learning. It develops skills so that children can think for themselves, make sound judgements, challenge, enquire and find solutions.

There will be new ways of assessing progress and ensuring children achieve their potential. There will be new qualifications for literacy and numeracy from 2012/13. New National 4 and 5 qualifications will be available from 2013/14. Our well regarded Access, Higher and Advanced Highers will be updated to take account of and support the new approaches to learning and teaching.

There is an entitlement to personal support to help young people fulfil their potential and make the most of their opportunities with additional support whenever that’s needed. There will be a new emphasis by all staff on looking after our children’s health and wellbeing – to ensure that the school is a place where children feel safe and secure.

Ultimately, Curriculum for Excellence aims is to improve our children’s life chances, to nurture successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors, and responsible citizens, building on Scotland’s reputation for great education.