Curriculum for Excellence
Transitions
Linda Kirkwood
Professional Adviser , Curriculum Division,
Scottish Government
Transitions in our lives
• Think of a transition in your own life:
Group to share and note two positive
words and two negative words which
describe feelings before transitions
• One transition which went well – factors?
• One which went badly? - factors?
• Share with shoulder partner
Let’s remind ourselves what CfE is
all about…
• It’s preparing young people for a changing future
• It’s recognising the primacy of learning
• It’s ensuring that young people have the building
blocks they need in terms of skills, concepts and
knowledge
• It’s having an education that supports a
sustainable prosperous future
• It’s addressing the achievement gap
Transitions DVD
Group activity – discuss your observations
and distil to 5 key principles which should
underpin all transitions –write these on a
sheet in large letters
Table tour – have a stretch and wander
around other tables to see other groups’
responses
Transitions – the story so far
HMIE report good pastoral transitions but concerns
about continuity and progression at both preschool to P1 and P7 to S1
“Effective transitions can and should ensure the
progressive development of all four capacities”
Transitions – what is good
learning?
Successful learners are….
Motivated and actively involved, responsible and
contribute actively, can express their views
articulately, are curious, creative, can think
critically, can learn independently and
collaboratively, are aware of themselves as
learners, know their strengths, skills, aptitudes,
areas for development, and
have learning needs met.
Transitions - learning
• How their learning skills have been
developed, personal learning planning
process
• Learning environments and contexts for
learning – how they have learned
• What they have learned and how well
(skills, achievements too)
The Levers for Change
Transitions – quality indicators
Attainment
The focus is on the extent to which you add
value to pupils’ progress by collaborating on
course and programme planning and
developing shared approaches to learning,
teaching and assessment
Transitions – quality indicators
Teaching process across transitionsThe focus is on the extent to which staff across
sectors develop a common understanding of
effective teaching and interaction with
children. By sharing ideas and good practice
you can avoid abrupt changes in what
children experience in their learning at
transitions.
Transitions – quality indicators
Pupils’ learning experiences Children need continuity in learning
experiences that motivate them,
stimulate their thinking and
investigative skills, develop
responsibility for their own learning in
collaborative and independent contexts
Transitions – capturing the whole
child
If we consider how well known each young
person is in P7- their learning skills
aptitudes, attitudes, achievements,
personality – how can we capture this and
maintain it into Secondary school and
avoid the ‘Lost Tribe of Israel’ by
Christmas?
To boldly go….Starship Excellence
What are we doing well ?
What do we need to work on now ?
What are the opportunities?