Curriculum for Excellence Presentation for Parents and Parent Councils

What is Curriculum for Excellence? Scotland’s new curriculum What your child will be learning New ways of teaching and learning More emphasis on Skills for learning, work and life New exams But also much more…..

We are preparing young people for jobs that don’t yet exist….. requiring technologies that haven’t yet been invented….. to solve problems of which we are not yet aware. Shift Happens:www.fleming.myzen.co.uk/ShiftHappens-UK.wmv

Curriculum for Excellence 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

Curriculum for Excellence Design Principles Challenge and Enjoyment Breadth Progression Depth Relevance Coherence Personalisation and Choice

Curriculum for Excellence Curriculum Areas Languages and Literacy Mathematics and Numeracy Sciences Expressive Arts Social Studies Technologies Health and Well Being Religious and Moral Education

Curriculum for Excellence Experiences and Outcomes Experience: What a child is learning to do - the different experiences that make up that learning Outcome: What a child can do as a result

Curriculum for Excellence Responsibility of all teachers Literacy Numeracy Aspects of Health and Well-being Four Capacities

Curriculum for Excellence Senior Phase S4-S6 Study for qualifications Challenge and Depth to learning Wider Achievement Planning beyond school More formal assessment Further development of 4 capacities Promotion of active and healthy lifestyle

Curriculum for Excellence New Qualifications retention of National Qualifications at Access, Higher and Advanced Higher, revised in line with Curriculum for Excellence; the new qualification to replace the present Standard Grade and Intermediate qualifications at SCQF levels 4 and 5 – National 4 and National 5; and the development of new qualifications in literacy and numeracy – National Literacy and National Numeracy – at SCQF levels 3, 4 and 5.

Curriculum for Excellence Approaches to Learning and Teaching Allow for choice Encourage independence Give children ownership Encourage children to explain their thinking Help children to make connections

Curriculum for Excellence Greater focus on Successful Learning Wanting to learn: seeing the point of it all Learning by doing: practising, having a go, making mistakes Positive feelings: usually based on other people’s reactions to what we do Making sense: “digesting” what we learn, to gain our own understanding Who Learns Wins by Phil Race

Curriculum for Excellence

Curriculum for Excellence Outside school Much of Learning and Experience takes place out with school at home and within the family at clubs and in community settings individually and with friends All of these experiences contribute to 4 capacities, and a young person’s broad education

Curriculum for Excellence What is the role of parents in Curriculum for Excellence? Education is changing… Understanding the big picture -“Its about what you need to be a successful, contributing human being in the 21st century.” “In a world of accelerating change, parents need to imagine the kind of education that will equip their children to lead fulfilled and successful lives.”

Curriculum for Excellence Where do parents come in? Schools and nurseries must engage with parents about the education of their children (Parental Involvement Act 2006) Partnership working is key to Curriculum for Excellence Parents have a responsibility to support their children and contribute to their learning and well being

Curriculum for Excellence How can schools do it? Working with you as partners – doing it together Involving parents Listening to parents Sharing views and opinions Valuing opinions Trying to understanding each other Providing information and support

Curriculum for Excellence How can parents do it? Find out more about Curriculum for Excellence Get involved in what is happening in your school around Curriculum for Excellence Support your school Ask for information if you don’t think you have it Work at that relationship

Curriculum for Excellence All types of involvement make a difference! Great deal of learning goes on outside school Support at Secondary and beyond still makes a significant difference = Where parents are involved children do better Results in achievement, attitude and behaviour

Curriculum for Excellence All Parents SPICE Support Praise Interest Challenge Encouragement

Curriculum for Excellence What can Parent Councils do? Thinking about what type of information the Parent Forum needs Consider how best the information can be shared? Identifying skills and expertise within the Parent Forum Making connections with voluntary sector, community, health and business Feedback to Headteacher Running Focus Groups with Headteacher on proposed changes Feeding back to Local Authority and Nationally Talk to young people themselves…….

Curriculum for Excellence A hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of car you drove, what kind of house you lived in, how much you had in your bank account, or what your clothes looked like. But the world may be a little better because you were important in the life of a child Margaret Fishback Powers