June 2009
This policy came into effect on June 2009 by HM Inspectorate of Education after
endorsement by HMIE Senior Management Group. It supersedes all previous versions.
Curriculum for Excellence:
continuing professional development (CPD) strategy
1.
INTRODUCTION
This CPD strategy has been designed to enable all HMII, Assistant Inspectors and Associate
Assessors to gain sufficient knowledge and understanding of Curriculum for Excellence to
evaluate and support its successful implementation across all sectors of education.
2.
CONTEXT
Curriculum for Excellence aims to achieve a transformational change in education in
Scotland by providing a coherent, more flexible and enriched curriculum from 3-18, firmly
focused on the individual needs of the child and young person. It aims to improve outcomes
for learners and equip them with the knowledge, skills and attributes they will need for
learning, life and work in a rapidly changing world. As a result, it raises expectations of all
sectors with regard to the:
 ongoing evaluation and development of the curriculum;
 planning and delivery of the curriculum;
 meeting of and reporting on intended outcomes of learning;
 types of learning and teaching approaches required;
 arrangements for carrying out assessment and measuring progress; and
 planning and promotion of learning opportunities.
The successful implementation of Curriculum for Excellence requires managers and
practitioners to change radically their thinking about how they plan and deliver learning and
teaching. HMIE needs to be in a position to support staff at all levels and in all sectors in the
planning and implementation of Curriculum for Excellence.
In order to fulfil the aims of Curriculum for Excellence, sectors will require to work
increasingly in partnership with each other. As a result, HMII, Assistant Inspectors and
Associate Assessors will require to increase their knowledge and understanding of the
interfaces between different sectors to enable them to provide well-informed advice and
feedback to staff.
3.
CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS
This strategy will have been successful if all HMII, Assistant Inspectors and Associate
Assessors are able to:
 make accurate evaluations and report clearly on progress with implementing
Curriculum for Excellence;
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June 2009


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4.
give a strong lead and consistent messages to managers and practitioners in
implementing Curriculum for Excellence;
discuss key documents, resources and CPD opportunities with managers and
practitioners; and
respond appropriately and consistently to questions and queries presented to them
during inspection and review and in other professional situations and activities.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
CPD will be through HMIE-organised corporate and Directorate training events, attendance
at external events organised nationally and locally, and through professional reading and
reflection at individual level.
Directorate 1 will lead on the planning and organising of corporate CPD activities liaising with
colleagues involved in CfE developments. The Lead Inspector (CPD) and the Assistant
Chief Inspector (ACI) in Directorate 1 with operational responsibility for Human Resources
(HR) will ensure that CPD and relevant resources and materials relating to CfE are made
available to all HMII, Assistant Inspectors and Associate Assessors. In doing so, they will
liaise closely with the HR Team, the Business Management & Communications Team
(BMCT) and the Corporate Planning Team (CPT).
Directorate ACIs and sectoral Lead Inspectors, working with National Specialists as
appropriate, will lead on the planning and organising of Directorate CPD activities, including
input relating to Curriculum for Excellence. ACIs have a responsibility to liaise with their
counterparts in other Directorates to ensure there is no overlap and duplication across
Directorate CPD events and that HMII, Assistant Inspectors and Associate Assessors
develop their understanding of cross-sectoral issues.
The ACI with responsibility for Associate Assessors (AAs) will ensure that AAs are provided
with induction and CPD to enable them to support the implementation of Curriculum for
Excellence.
All HMII, Assistant Inspectors and Associate Assessors have a responsibility to
undertake continuing professional development (CPD) on Curriculum for Excellence.
They should ensure that they are sufficiently knowledgeable on all aspects of
Curriculum for Excellence to support its implementation with confidence.
5.
OTHER RELEVANT OR RELATED POLICIES OR STRATEGIES
The Human Resources policy and strategy are of particular relevance.
6.
IMPLEMENTATION, QUALITY ASSURANCE & REPORTING PROCEDURES
HM Chief Inspector, Directorate 1 will report to Senior Management Group and Management
Board on CPD for Curriculum for Excellence and its outcomes.
See Appendix 1 for details of plans for CPD.
7.
REVIEW ARRANGEMENTS
This strategy will be reviewed in January 2010.
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7.
CONTACT DETAILS
Any comments or queries on this strategy should be addressed to:
BMCT, HM Inspectorate of Education, 2nd Floor, Denholm House, Almondvale Way,
Livingston EH54 6GA.
telephone: 01506 600265
e-mail: rona.littleproud@hmie.gsi.gov.uk
8.
RELEVANT HYPERLINKS
Curriculum for Excellence website
Curriculum for Excellence area of HMIE intranet
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June 2009
APPENDIX 1: OVERVIEW OF PLANNED CPD
DATE/EVENT
June – August 2009
CPD ACTIVITIES RELATED TO CfE
 personal/small group/office group reading, discussion and
familiarisation of:
Building the Curriculum 2, 3 and 4
Experiences and Outcomes
Early Years Framework
Skills for Scotland
materials in GP area of HMIE websites & JtE
CURREV task group advice on Experiences and
Outcomes (including literacy, numeracy and
H&WB), interdisciplinary work and curriculum
design (to be issued after CURREV meeting on
30th June)
 copies of all above to be placed on HMIE intranet for easy
access.
 individual/small group/office group record of implications and
issues to be brought to August seminar with a view to
informing consistency issues and update of Q+A paper on
CfE.

All Directorate Quality Group meetings to discuss “CfE:
issues, implications and good practice” as standing agenda
item. Outcomes to feed into small group/office discussions
and to inform inputs at August national seminar and
directorate training events.
Wednesday 19/8/09
Day 2 – National
Seminar
Agenda to focus on CfE and links to ISE2
 SCI input & final plenary: expectations and ISE2 links
 CfE programme framework and timescales & EA
implementation plans for CfE
 Scenarios designed to stimulate group discussion on a
range of issues relating to CfE, including aspects of
learning and teaching, literacy, numeracy, health and
wellbeing, interdisciplinary
 Building our Curriculum: “testing the framework”
Dates TBC
Bespoke, regional training events for Associate Assessors.
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June 2009
August 2009
Directorate
Conferences
All Directorate conferences to set aside time to consider outcomes
from National Seminar and consider the following in their own
sectoral context
 Learning and teaching approaches, including active
learning
 exemplification materials on Es and Os, skills guidance
and assessment
 Scottish Baccalaureate (Dir 3)
 implications of key points in draft recognising
achievement guidance document
 literacy, numeracy, H&WB in sectoral context
 CfE Q+A and “lines to take” to be updated and reissued to all HMII, Assistant Inspectors and Associate
Assessors.
SDCORP (December
7/8/9 2009)
December 2009
Directorate
Conferences
SDCORP (June 2010)

Content on CfE as appropriate.

Content on CfE as appropriate.

Content on CfE as appropriate
August 2010
Directorate
Conferences

Content on CfE as appropriate
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