Bringing Coherence to the Curriculum Bringing Coherence to the Curriculum “Design, Development and Delivery” Sohail Faruqi Director of Education and Recreation Aberdeenshire Council Tuesday 3 October 2006

A Curriculum for Excellence - The National Context A Curriculum for Excellence - The National Context Ambitious, Excellent SchoolsAmbitious, Excellent Schools The Journey to ExcellenceThe Journey to Excellence School improvement Policies and PrioritiesSchool improvement Policies and Priorities Support and Challenge:Support and Challenge: An Intelligent Accountability Framework An Intelligent Accountability Framework Bringing Coherence to the Curriculum

The 10 Dimensions of excellence

Intelligent Accountability should be based on the school’s own view of how well it is serving its pupils and its priorities for improvement the school’s own view of how well it is serving its pupils and its priorities for improvement Bringing Coherence to the Curriculum

Fundamental Questions? Fundamental Questions? Attainment or Achievement? Learning to Learn or Learning to Pass? Preparing citizens for today or for tomorrow? What is our agenda? Bringing Coherence to the Curriculum

Supporting individuals and families Enabling learning Enabling learning & employability & employability Enabling community development & prosperity Enabling community development & prosperity Schools and Local Authorities Why Develop the Four ACE Purposes? Bringing Coherence to the Curriculum

A Curriculum for Excellence A Curriculum for Excellence - Challenge and Opportunity - - Challenge and Opportunity - The Environment for LearningThe Environment for Learning The Choice of Teaching and Learning ApproachesThe Choice of Teaching and Learning Approaches The Ways in which Learning is Organised (Curriculum Design)The Ways in which Learning is Organised (Curriculum Design) Collegiality, Partnership and LeadershipCollegiality, Partnership and Leadership A focus on CPDA focus on CPD Making Learning Enjoyable and MotivatingMaking Learning Enjoyable and Motivating Bringing Coherence to the Curriculum

Role of the Local Authority: Strategic Leadership Role of the Local Authority: Strategic Leadership Build the capacity of schools to be effective learning institutionsBuild the capacity of schools to be effective learning institutions Empower schools to develop a curriculum that meets the needs of young people within their communitiesEmpower schools to develop a curriculum that meets the needs of young people within their communities Develop and implement a coherent and focused School Improvement Programme including curriculum designDevelop and implement a coherent and focused School Improvement Programme including curriculum design Bringing Coherence to the Curriculum

A Curriculum for Excellence A Curriculum for Excellence Design, Development and Delivery Aberdeenshire Curriculum Strategy GroupAberdeenshire Curriculum Strategy Group Two-day curriculum focus groupTwo-day curriculum focus group Feedback/Discussions with 5 Head TeachersFeedback/Discussions with 5 Head Teachers Led to today’s agenda …..Led to today’s agenda ….. Shared agenda with Aberdeen City and MorayShared agenda with Aberdeen City and Moray Endorsement and Support from the AuthorityEndorsement and Support from the Authority Bringing Coherence to the Curriculum

Successful Implementation Will Require a clear vision, shared by all a clear vision, shared by all the engagement of all practitioners - to achieve professional commitment and sense of ownership the engagement of all practitioners - to achieve professional commitment and sense of ownership the actions of all key players (Officers, HTs, Promoted and all staff) directed towards achievement of the aims the actions of all key players (Officers, HTs, Promoted and all staff) directed towards achievement of the aims We all need to make sense of this agenda. We all need to make sense of this agenda.

Promoters/ Drivers Assessment, reporting and Qualifications: aligned with purposes Accountability and Planning: Improvement planning Performance measures Inspection Self-evaluation Infrastructure: Communication Teacher education Teacher conditions Resources GLOW Climate: Trust Support from employers, universities Young people Parents Support and Development: Clear guidance EA development activity CPD Roles of LTS, SCIS, TEIs Motivation and commitment Promoting successful implementation

Our Collective Challenge To lead and promote staff discussion in our schools on the “A Curriculum for Excellence” Agenda To lead and promote staff discussion in our schools on the “A Curriculum for Excellence” Agenda To assist staff in making sense of this agenda To assist staff in making sense of this agenda To identify, share and build on current good practice To identify, share and build on current good practice