CfE Implementation e-bulletin
November 2014
Welcome back from the October break. A lot of
work has continued to progress since our last
update and I’m delighted to bring you the
latest support, news and information in the
November issue of the CfE e-bulletin.
It’s important to us that we reach as many
people as possible to help support the
implementation of CfE. If you think any of your
colleagues or contacts in the education
community would benefit from receiving this
update, you can forward this e-bulletin on and
ask them to sign up on the Education Scotland website.
Bill Maxwell
Chair of the CfE Implementation Group
Education Scotland has published nine 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.
The Professional Focus Papers are now available for download on the web-based course
materials site on Glow and the Education Scotland website.
Primary Leadership Conferences
A series of five leadership conferences were held in September and October
2014 to support primary schools with the implementation of Curriculum for
Excellence. Presentations and seminar materials from these events are now
available on the Education Scotland website.
Evaluating and Improving our Curriculum
Evaluating and Improving our Curriculum – Primary is a resource to help primary schools
evaluate and develop different aspects of their curriculum. This resource has
been written by Education Scotland staff and a group of primary headteacher. It
draws together key aspects of advice related to Curriculum for Excellence and
self-evaluation available on the Education Scotland website. New sections will
be added over time as the resource evolves.
What could I be? Education Scotland and partners link up with the
Herald and Times
A new, unique publication called What could I be? has been produced for young
people around careers. Parents, carers and teachers will also find this
supplement helpful in thinking about jobs and careers as well as considering
options for the future.
This is the first of three handy supplements that Education Scotland, the
Scottish Government, Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish
Qualifications Authority have teamed up with the Herald and Times to produce.
The second of which will be available this week. These supplements have
appeared in the Sunday Herald and Evening Times and will be sent to every
secondary school in Scotland for distribution to their S1 pupils. Another one will
be produced in January 2015.
Advanced Higher Unit Assessment Support - package 1 now available
SQA has published the first Unit assessment support package for Units in the
Advanced Higher Courses. Package 1 is now available and teachers/lecturers
can arrange access to these materials through their SQA Co-ordinator. These
packs must be stored securely and treated as confidential.
SQA continues to engage and communicate with schools and colleges via the
CfE Support team and through weekly and monthly e-updates.
Sharing Learning, Sharing Assessment – A Report for Parents
During spring 2014 the National Parent Forum of Scotland hosted a group to
give particular consideration to the needs and views of parents as the move
forward with assessment in Curriculum for Excellence continues. The message
from parents was clear – they wanted clearer information about new
assessment levels and approaches within the curriculum.
The group has now published its final report and recommendations.
The key messages from the report are:
Culture change - Curriculum for Excellence is as much about culture change as
change in practices.
Assessing learning - Assessment is an on-going process to support learning;
it is not just a task for reporting purposes. It is about getting the evidence to
help a child improve and move on to the next steps in their learning.
Sharing learning - If parents are to support learning, they need to be seen as
part of the assessment process, as an active partner with the teacher in helping
their child improve while being supported to talk to their child about their
learning and next steps.
The report has been sent directly to every Headteacher and Parent Council
Chair in Scotland and Headteachers are encouraged to discuss the report with
their Parent Council and consider how the messages can best be shared with
the Parent Forum and taken forward in their school.
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