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1.
2015
CfE Implementation ebulletin
February
Welcome to the February edition of the CfE
e-bulletin. This month’s edition reflects the
wide range of support resources now being
produced to help practitioners realise the full
potential of CfE at every stage of the learning
journey.
In secondary schools, there is a range of resources designed to help schools
extend the principles of personalisation and choice, so central to the philosophy
of CfE. For the Broad General Education phase there is new guidance on
ensuring progression in the development of numeracy skills and more broadly
there are more titles in the ‘Opening up Great Learning’ and professional focus
papers series.
We are even looking ahead now to the introduction of the new Advanced
Highers, with some new guidance on the areas of continuity in each subject
area, building on the similar guidance provided for Higher.
And there is much more. As ever, I hope you find some useful resources
through the links in this newsletter, wherever you are working to help Scottish
learners achieve their potential.
Bill Maxwell
Chair of the CfE
CfE Provision, Personalisation and Choice
SQA has designed the new National Qualifications to support Curriculum for
Excellence (CfE) and ensure that there is a seamless progression in young
people's learning from the 3-15 outcomes and experiences through into the new
National Qualifications.
CfE represents a different approach to learning and assessment and in the way
education is delivered in nurseries, primary schools, secondary schools,
colleges, the workplace and the community. This fresh approach to learning
requires new assessment methods and qualifications to ensure continuity of
learning and assessment as young people move from the broad general
education through into their senior phase.
SQA has worked closely with Education Scotland to ensure the continuity of
learning and assessment 3 to 18. SQA has also introduced new quality
assurance arrangements to give greater ongoing support to teachers in
understanding the standards of assessment, and to support the internal
assessment of the new National Qualifications.
The number of subjects candidates will take is a matter for local education
authorities. Some authorities may be delivering the new qualifications in a
manner that differs from another and there may be variations across schools
within the same authority.
Because of the flexibility, the range of subjects and the number of qualifications
that a learner will take will vary and the qualifications have been designed to
reflect this flexibility allowing qualifications to be taken at a rate and pace that
suits the learner. There is also a range of qualifications available which help
learners to prepare for the world of work, including SQA Skills for Work
Courses, National Progression Awards (NPAs) and National Certificates (NCs).
Arrangements for Higher Courses in 2015-16
Session 2014–15 is the final session in which the existing Higher Courses will
run in centres. From August 2015, only the new Higher Courses will be available
and candidates wishing to undertake a Higher Course in 2015–16 will therefore
be required to follow the new Higher. As a result, candidates who receive a ‘No
Award’ result for an existing Higher Course in 2014-15 will be unable to re-sit
the Course assessment in 2016. SQA is therefore putting an arrangement in
place to support these candidates. Further details can be found on our news
page under Arrangements for Higher Courses in 2015-16.
In order to minimise the risk of any candidate sitting down to the wrong
question paper on the day of the exam SQA has put a number of additional
safeguard checks in place. These include using different colour packaging for
the question papers (QPs) and having a different layout to the QP cover. There
will be additional information in both the Invigilators’ Handbook and candidates’
‘My Exams’ booklet highlighting the need to take care in ensuring that the
correct exam is sat. All of these measures are being communicated to relevant
stakeholders via e-updates, social media and face to face engagement.
Tackling Bureaucracy
An online resource is available on the Education Scotland website which details
the key messages from the Curriculum for Excellence Working Group on
Tackling Bureaucracy. It draws together guidance, relevant resources and
examples of good practice in areas including; assessment, planning monitoring
and tracking and self-evaluation.
Numeracy Progression Framework - NEW
This new resource from Education Scotland has been created to deepen
practitioners' knowledge and understanding of progression within the
experiences and outcomes for numeracy and mathematics. Arranged in a series
of organisers, it aims to support planning by identifying key milestones that
learners should know before moving on to the next stage of learning.
The resource shows:
 the progression milestones in the numeracy organisers;
 key milestones and building blocks in mathematics;
 exemplification of building blocks showing good practice;
 previous knowledge required from other organisers;
 and connections between the organisers.
The resource will be released in stages to allow for full engagement by staff with
each stage allowing them to build a deep knowledge and understanding of
progression in numeracy. This first stage shows the progression milestones and
building blocks in the numeracy experiences and outcomes.
National 1 - Professional focus papers
Education Scotland has now published 9 Professional Focus Papers for National
1 units.
Our comprehensive range of Professional Focus Papers has been designed to
assist those supporting learners as they work towards the new qualifications
and highlight important features of learning which are enhanced or different
from previous arrangements. They provide advice on approaches to learning
and teaching which build directly on those used in the 3-15 Broad General
Education, in order to promote continuity in learners’ acquisition of knowledge,
understanding and skills. The papers are also intended to stimulate professional
reflection and dialogue about learning.
They come as part of the development of exemplar course materials across the
full range of new qualifications, being managed by Education Scotland in
partnership with ADES.
CfE Briefing - Religious Observance - NEW
Education Scotland has published the latest title in the popular CfE briefing
series.
The latest briefing is intended for practitioners to explore the aims and purposes
of Religious Observance (RO) within Curriculum for Excellence but can also be
used to inform partners, learners, and their parents and carers, about RO.
Opening up Great Learning - NEWS
The first title in the new series of discussion papers “Opening Up Great
Learning” focuses on RME and is available on the Education Scotland
website. The series in intended to focus discussion on learning itself and how it
is changing in response to the opportunities afforded by CfE. Each paper begins
with a thought-provoking narrative exploring what great learning might actually
be, and then a ‘let’s talk about…’ section with activities for practitioners to use if
they wish.
National Leadership Events for CfE
Education Scotland, in association with the Scottish Government, ADES, SLS
and SQA, is building on the success of the 2014 events with a further series of
four national events on leadership of CfE in January and February 2015.
Secondary head teachers and depute headteachers from every secondary
school in Scotland will attend, along with local authority officers. The main aims
for these conferences are:
 to support headteachers in leading key aspects of Curriculum for
Excellence
 to share good practice and to provide opportunities for professional
dialogue
Sessions have already taken place in Glasgow and Dunblane with attendees
finding the sessions engaging and informative. Another session will run in
Edinburgh on 9 February and in Aberdeen on 25 February. We'll be tweeting live
from the Edinburgh event so watch out for further details.
What Could I Be?
Education Scotland, the Scottish Government, Skills Development Scotland and
the SQA have teamed up with the Sunday Herald to produce a series of
supplements aimed at S1 pupils to get them thinking about their future and
careers that could be open to them. The third and final edition in the current
series of What Could I Be? was published in the Sunday Herald on 25 January
and in the Evening Times on 26 January. Copies of the supplement are being
sent to schools across Scotland for all S1 pupils. This edition focussed on the
food and drink industry and the various businesses and roles which support this.
There’s also a handy calendar outlining the themes of the Year of Food and
Drink 2015. You can access a PDF version here.
National 4 video clips
SQA has produced a series of National 4 video clips to highlight the options
available to learners who are working towards or have obtained National 4
qualifications.
The videos highlight that there are many pathways to success and learners can
make every day count towards achieving good qualifications and creating a
bright future for themselves.
National 4 video clips.
Course comparison documents for new Advanced Higher Courses
SQA has published Course comparison documents for each of the new Advanced
Higher Courses. These documents contain tables which compare the new
Advanced Higher Courses with the existing Advanced Higher Courses, and
outline some of the changes and areas of stability.
Course comparison documents can be found in the ‘Related Information’ panel
on each of the relevant subject pages of SQA's website.
Advanced Higher past paper guidance
SQA has published past paper guidance for all new Advanced Higher Courses
that will include a question paper as part of the Course assessment. This
guidance will help teachers and lecturers identify which existing Advanced
Higher past paper questions can be used to help candidates revise for the new
Advanced Higher question papers in 2016. Advanced Higher past paper
guidance is available from the subject pages of SQA's website.
New Higher Exemplar Question Papers and guidance
SQA has published Exemplar Question Papers (EQPs) for every new Higher
Course that includes a question paper as part of the Course assessment. This is
an additional resource that has been produced using existing questions from
Higher past papers, and can be used by teachers, lecturers and candidates to
prepare for the live Higher question papers. It may also be useful to parents /
carers in supporting candidates preparing for Higher Course assessment.
The EQPs also include Marking Instructions and are accompanied by a guidance
document that illustrates how further examples of questions can be produced.
They are available from the subject pages of SQA's website.
Gaelic Education: Immersion weeks for Teachers and Early Years
Resources
Bòrd na Gàidhlig, in partnership with the University of Glasgow and Sabhal Mòr
Ostaig will be running 4 Gaelic immersion weeks this year. These weeks will be
aimed at teachers wishing to learn Gaelic and who may have an interest in
transferring to Gaelic Medium Education (GME).
The main objective of the weeks is to give the teachers more confidence in the
language and will provide them with Gaelic vocabulary suitable for a classroom
setting. Teachers will also have the opportunity to go over basic Gaelic
grammar, learn about resources for use in a GME setting and have an
opportunity to visit a school offering GME. The courses will each run for 5
consecutive days and are suitable for both primary and secondary
teachers. The immersion weeks will be in February and March and application
forms and further information is available from Joanne McHale at Bòrd na
Gàidhlig: joanne@gaidhlig.org.uk; 01463 225454
Also, Stòrlann are about to release their new resource in Gaelic for pre-school
and early years. The ‘Bi Sunndach agus Seinn’ (be happy and sing) music book
contains 34 songs, rhymes and games which are designed to engage and
stimulate. Although many of the songs are new, there are some familiar
favourites including eight traditional songs. By participating in these fun
musical games, children will learn key musicianship skills such as listening, turn
taking, keeping the beat, feeling the rhythm and becoming pitch aware.
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