Curriculum for Excellence - A Breifing

We recently received an email from Learning Link Scotland containing a briefing about the curriculum of excellence. Below is some experts from the briefing to give you an idea. If you would like a copy of the full briefing then get in touch with me via cgow@brag.co.uk.

What is it?

Curriculum for Excellence is the Scottish Government’s strategic plan to ensure that educational services for 3 to 18 year olds are focused on the needs of children and young people and will enable them to reach their full potential in all areas of their lives. It has been in development for the past few years and is currently being implemented in educational facilities.

The reach of Curriculum for Excellence aims to be wider than schools. It calls for stronger partnership working between all agencies that impact on young people’s lives. Pre-school centres and schools are developing learning partnerships with key partners such as voluntary sector, colleges, community learning and development, universities, employers, partner agencies, youth work. This is to ensure that support and learning packages are built around young people’s needs, particular circumstances and aspirations.  There is increasing reference that Curriculum for Excellence can be a lifelong learning curriculum.

This briefing aims to highlight the key terms and phrases to become familiar with Curriculum for Excellence and to begin to consider how you might engage with it.

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What does this mean for the voluntary sector?

Learning Link Scotland aims to support the sector to identify the relevance to Curriculum for Excellence. Additionally we want to support partners such as Learning Teaching Scotland (LTS) to raise awareness and understanding of Curriculum for Excellence with our members. We are aware that overall there is a need for clarity around the links between Curriculum for Excellence and adult learning.

Within Curriculum for Excellence itself there are no clearly expressed links made between the curriculum and adult learning, and as it stands, the guidance only relates to young people up to the age of 18.   However voluntary sector adult learning providers can expect to hear increasing references to the curriculum in many different partnerships and it has strong resonances with Adult Literacy and Numeracy and Community Learning and Development practice.

Curriculum for Excellence calls on schools to develop strong links with the voluntary sector to ensure that 3 to 18 year olds are given a holistic educational experience. It highlights the sector as a key provider which can support this aim. 

Are there opportunities for the voluntary sector to engage with Curriculum for Excellence?

Learning Link Scotland has begun talking to representatives from Scottish Government, Learning Teaching Scotland and HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIe) amongst others to begin to identify whether members can engage and contribute to emerging developments.

Here are some early reflections

The emphasis on family learning within ALIS 2020 and the Literacy Action Plan will provide a natural pathway for the voluntary sector to link with Curriculum for Excellence.

A central principle of Curriculum for Excellence is the learner’s place at the centre of learning provision and building support round them according to their needs. Many practitioners are already very familiar with this social practice approach through their work in adult literacies provision and could therefore bring a wealth of experience to the 3 to 18 curriculum.

There is a strong focus on literacy and numeracy, and health and wellbeing within Curriculum for Excellence.  All teachers of all subjects will be required to support literacy and numeracy learning in all subjects. The recognition of the voluntary sector’s commitment to adult literacy and numeracy, and to developing health and wellbeing will place it in an excellent position to connect with these elements of Curriculum for Excellence.  Is there potential for the voluntary sector to provide continuing professional development opportunities, sharing effective practice to support the embedding of Curriculum for Excellence?

Voluntary sector providers who are involved in adult literacies provision in Scotland will be familiar with the Adult Literacy and Numeracy Curriculum Framework and its Wheel (http://wheel.aloscotland.com/splash.php). By comparing it with the Curriculum for Excellence it is possible to see how well they link together as they have similar principles and values to teaching and learning, the long term goals of learning, development of critical understanding and self-determination.

It is also clear that voluntary sector practitioners could have a role to promote the curriculum in terms of the new literacy and numeracy qualifications, which are likely to run alongside core skills qualifications for some time at least, and which will be available to learners at all ages.

An increasing number of voluntary organisations are now called on to be involved in the HMIe How Good is Our Community Learning and Development inspection and review. It is likely that involvement by adult learning providers will continue to grow, particularly within the Senior Phase.

Opportunities to Grow

A great opportunity for all the people we work with is coming up on 10th March 2011.

Brag Enterprises, one of Fifes longest established social enterprises is proud to be hosting a social enterprise trade fair in the Keavil House Hotel in Dunfermline.

You will have the opportunity to network with like minded individuals, collaborate and forge new partnerships with the public, private and voluntary sector and liaise with new and established businesses from across the country.

It's totally free to come along, and more importantly its also free to exhibit your enterprise at the event.

You may also leave with more money in your pocket than when you arrived if you take part in the Opportunities to Grow Dragons Den.

To register or find out more then visit http://otg.motivatetoinnovate.org.uk/.