Page reviewed 08/08/10  

The purposes of the curriculum 3-18

Since its inception, the aspiration for the development of the Curriculum for Excellence has been to enable all children and young people to become successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors to society and at work.

The purposes of the curriculum are to provide the structure and support in learning which will enable them to develop these four capacities.

Curriculum areas

The curriculum areas are the organisers for setting out the experiences and outcomes. In drawing up the experiences and outcomes, learning in each curriculum area has been reviewed and updated to emphasise the contributions it can make to developing the four capacities.

Values of Curriculum for Excellence

What are the values underpinning the new curriculum?

Wisdom, justice, compassion and integrity are the words inscribed on the mace of the Scottish Parliament. These words have helped to define values for Scottish society.

Curriculum for Excellence - Building the Curriculum

The latest thinking from the programme, Building the Curriculum, is now available on the A Curriculum for Excellence website. The main aim of this new material is to involve groups of teachers in professional reflection, debate and rethinking which will be an essential part of successful implementation. To support planning for the curriculum as a whole there will be further Building the Curriculum papers published which will include cross-cutting themes.

http://www.acurriculumforexcellencescotland.gov.uk/buildingthecurriculum/index.asp

For the first time, the pre-school sector and the early years of primary will be presented together as one level. Here we provide an over view of active learning in the early years.

Children learn by doing, thinking and exploring, and through quality interaction, intervention and relationships, all combining to build the four capacities for each child.

It is important that staff across all early years settings recognise the interests and experiences children bring from home and use these as a starting point to extend learning.

At the heart of an active learning approach is the creative, adaptable professional who can develop the ideas that arise when children are immersed in their learning.

Building the Curriculum 1 is available in pdf format by clicking this link .

Building the Curriculum 3 has been published and is available in pdf format by clicking this link.   

                   Building the Curriculum 4 is now available by clicking this link.

Building the Curriculum 5 is now available by clicking this link.

Published in 2010 by the Scottish Government, it sets out key messages about principles of assessment, standards and expectations, ensuring consistency, CPD and support, reporting to parents, informing self-evaluation for improvement and monitoring standards over time.

Building the Curriculum 5
A Framework for Assessment is the next step in providing support for staff as they implement Curriculum for Excellence. It provides an outline of the approaches to assessment to support the purposes of learning 3 to 18.