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CfE Implementation e-bulletin, April 2015
Welcome to the April edition of the CfE
Implementation e-bulletin.
As we head towards the Easter holidays it is
worth reflecting that a great deal of hard work
and commitment has been demonstrated by
everyone to get us to this point.
In every part of the education system
practitioners are working hard to ensure that
the benefits of CfE are realised in full for their
learners. As we enter the last few weeks in the
lead up to the examinations, staff in secondary
schools are putting in a huge amount of work
to ensure their pupils achieve the results and
awards they deserve. This e-bulletin highlights
a range of support available from a variety of
partners to support staff and pupils at this
important stage.
On behalf of the CfE Implementation Group, I would certainly like to take this
opportunity to express our appreciation of the professionalism and commitment
that has entailed across all sectors.
Bill Maxwell
Chair of the CfE Implementation Board
Education Scotland News now available
We are pleased to inform you that the Spring
2015 issue of Education Scotland News is now
available, providing the latest information on
some of our key activities across the sectors,
from the early years to adult learning. This
issue has a particular focus on Making Good
Assessment Decisions and contains some useful
articles on assessing progress and
achievement, the Scottish Survey of Literacy
and Numeracy and practical steps to support
great learning.
Visit the Education Scotland website today to
view and download your copy of Education
Scotland News.
Tackling Bureaucracy Follow-Up Report
A follow-up report by the Tackling Bureaucracy Working Group has been
published on the Scottish Government website. Chaired by Dr Alasdair Allan,
Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages, the group has brought
together a wide range of partners in Scottish education, to tackle concerns over
bureaucracy arising from Curriculum for Excellence. The working group’s first
report was published in November 2013. The follow-up report reviews the
progress that has been made, and sets out specific areas where further work is
needed – including forward planning, assessment, self-evaluation and
improvement, and monitoring and reporting.
In addition, an independent research project and some examples of good
practice have also been published on our website. Commissioned on behalf of
the Tackling Bureaucracy Working Group, it reviews the links between policies
and practices, both national and local, and how they are aligned in helping to
tackle excessive bureaucracy. The research report was part of a range of
evidence that the Group considered in the course of producing its follow-up
report.
Printed copies of the report and a useful poster summarising the key messages
have been distributed to all schools. You can download the poster from the
Education Scotland website.
Coursework information for new Advanced Higher Courses
SQA has published coursework information for all new Advanced Higher Courses
that will include coursework (assignments, projects etc) as part of the Course
assessment. Coursework information has been published in two parts; General
assessment information and Coursework assessment tasks. These documents
have been developed to support teachers and lecturers, and to help prepare
candidates for the Advanced Higher Course assessment. General assessment
information is available from each of the relevant subject pages on the SQA
subject pages.
Coursework assessment tasks are confidential documents, which are held on
SQA's secure website. Teachers can arrange access to them through their SQA
Co-ordinator.
Your Exams 2015
At the beginning of March, SQA's publication Your Exams 2015 was sent to
centres for distribution to candidates.
The publication is also available to view and download from SQA's Your Exams
web page, alongside Gaelic, Polish, Punjabi, Traditional Chinese, and Urdu
translations.
Video: Existing Higher vs new Higher
SQA has released a short video to demonstrate the different look of the new
and existing Higher question papers, and to advise candidates on what to look
out for on exam day.
The 2015 exam diet will include exams for both new and existing Higher
Courses, so SQA has put a number of safeguards in place to minimise the risk
of any confusion for candidates and centres. These include using different
coloured packaging for the question papers and different layouts for the front
covers of the question papers.
The ‘Existing Higher vs new Higher’ video is available to watch on SQA's
YouTube channel, SQAonline.
Developing the Young Workforce website
The Education Scotland website now includes a dedicated area for Developing
the Young Workforce.
Developing the Young Workforce is a seven-year programme that aims to better
prepare children and young people form 3-18 for the world of work. The
programme builds on the foundations already in place as part of Curriculum for
Excellence.
The website has background information about the programme as well as
information about key areas including;
 careers information and advice
 work placement
 senior phase pathways
 skills for learning, life and work
There are also resources and links from across Education Scotland that will
support skills development. The website will be regularly updated with new
content, bookmark the page to keep up-to-date.
Learning for Sustainability
Education Scotland has published the second title in the new Opening Up Great
Learning series. This title focuses on learning for sustainability (LfS) and
explores how meeting national LfS recommendations can enable schools, early
learning and childcare settings to achieve great outcomes.
Learning for Sustainability is a priority for the Scottish Government and
Scotland's education professionals and is a core part of the revised GTCS
Professional standards for all practitioners and school leaders.
Download Learning for Sustainability title from the Education Scotland website
today.
PE projects produce positive results
Initiatives introduced to meet the Scottish Government’s commitment to
provide two hours or two periods of physical education in schools have had a
positive impact on the number of children and young people taking part each
week.
An evaluation of the initiatives developed by Sportscotland and Education
Scotland has found that the number of primary and secondary schools meeting
the two hour or two period target for PE has increased from 89% in 2013, to
96% in 2014.
A full copy of the Measuring the Impact of the ‘Two Hours/Two Periods of
Quality Physical Education Programme’ report is available from the Education
Scotland website.
Technologies 3-18 Curriculum Impact Report
The Technologies Impact Report is now available on the Education Scotland
website. This report evaluates the quality of young people’s learning and
achievements in the technologies. It contributes to the overall picture of what it
is like to be a learner in Scotland in the second decade of the 21st century.
The report identifies strengths in learning across the technologies and it
suggests what can be done to improve outcomes for children, young people,
and communities. This includes setting an agenda to better advance learning in
the technologies with a range of key partners.
To view and download the report, visit the Education Scotland website.
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