Curriculum for Excellence
Mearns Academy
Mearns Academy
Curriculum for Excellence
– Consultation with Parents
Dec 2012
Mearns Academy
Curriculum for Excellence
Curriculum for Excellence
Purpose of this meeting:
1. To confirm overall Curriculum for Excellence picture
2. To explain planned pattern of delivery in Mearns Academy
3. To show changes / similarities with previous models
4. To allow parents to ask questions and provide feedback
Mearns Academy
Curriculum for Excellence
Curriculum for Excellence:
What is it?
•
The national programme for curriculum delivery in Scotland
for young people aged 3 – 18
Principles
•
Challenge and enjoyment
•
Progression
•
Coherence and relevance
•
Depth
•
Personalisation and choice
•
Breadth
Curriculum for Excellence
Mearns Academy
Curriculum for Excellence:
Seeks to develop 4 capacities:
• confident individuals
• successful learners
• effective contributors
• responsible citizens
Curriculum for Excellence
Mearns Academy
Curriculum for Excellence:
Key Aspects of Delivery (1):
• 8 Curricular Areas
-
Expressive Arts
Health and Well-being
Languages
Mathematics
Religious and Moral Education
Sciences
Social Studies
Technologies
Curriculum for Excellence
Mearns Academy
Curriculum for Excellence:
Levels and Stages:
Level
Stage
Early
The pre-school years and P1 or later for some
First
To the end of P4, but earlier or later for some
Second
To the end of P7, but earlier or later for some
Third and Fourth
S1 to S3, but earlier for some. The fourth level broadly
equates to SCQF level 4
Senior Phase
S4 – S6 and college or other means of study
New Qualifications – range of new qualifications planned by SQA (see booklet)
Cross Cutting Themes:
Literacy
Numeracy
Health and Well-being
Mearns Academy
Curriculum for Excellence
Mearns Academy and Curriculum for Excellence
Progress and Improvements
•
Improving teaching and learning
•
Increased liaison with Primary schools re transition
•
Building on high quality primary experience
•
Revised S1/S2 curriculum structure, revised faculty structure
•
Less teachers seen by pupils in S1
•
Widespread focus re literacy, numeracy (and health and well-being) across the
curriculum
•
Reflective period – supports / forces reflection on learning
•
Refreshed and imaginative contexts for assessment
•
Wide range of cross-sector and inter-disciplinary experiences (e.g. local study, John
Muir Trust, P6 Science, SfL and RME, RME and English, Home Econ. and PE, etc.)
Curriculum for Excellence
Mearns Academy
Aberdeenshire Council Position (March 2012):
S1 – S3
Broad General Education
S4 – S6
Senior Phase (to include certification)
Most schools:
full adoption of this 2013-14
Mearns Academy: full adoption of this 2014 – 15 onwards
Mearns Academy
Scottish Government Position
As per Aberdeenshire council
S3 study of broad, general education
S3 profile to be produced
little definition re model of delivery
no qualifications to be taken in S3
Curriculum for Excellence
Curriculum for Excellence
Mearns Academy
Mearns Academy – Interim Year 2012 - 13
S1
-
BGE – common course
S2
-
BGE – common course
S3
-
Eight subjects selected across curricular areas
(it is anticipated these will continue into S4
following production of S3 profile)
S4
-
Last year of Standard Grades
S5/6
-
As per previous
Personalisation in the
classroom/setting
Curriculum for Excellence
Mearns Academy
Mearns Academy – Interim Year 2013 - 14
S1
-
BGE – common course
S2
-
BGE – common course
S3
-
BGE – limited personalisation, coverage in all
curricular areas, some setting, some rotas
S4
-
Completion of current S3 courses to N3, 4 or 5
S5/6
-
As per previous
Personalisation in the
classroom/setting
Curriculum for Excellence
Mearns Academy
Mearns Academy – 2014 - 15
S1
-
BGE – common course
S2
-
BGE – common course
S3
-
BGE – limited personalisation, coverage in all
curricular areas, some setting, some rotas
S4 – S6 -
Personalisation in the
classroom/setting
Senior phase: S4 up to 6 subjects (Eng & Maths
compulsory)
S5/6 up to 5 subjects
Extraction group in S4
N3, 4, 5, H, AH qualifications (new and old?)
Some bi-level classes
Mearns Academy
Curriculum for Excellence
Mearns Academy Proposed Curriculum for Excellence Structure December 2012
Curriculum for Excellence
Mearns Academy
Assessment and Certification
N3 and N4
N5 / H / AH
Fallback
-
internally assessed (units and value-added)
-
pass or fail
-
units assessed internally under controlled conditions
-
value added assessed in most cases by exam
-
graded A – D (banded within that 1 – 9)
-
near miss at N5 can result in award on N4
-
no such facility for H to N5
Mearns Academy
Curriculum for Excellence
Next Steps
• Confirm steps to deliver revised curriculum structure in Senior Phase
• Review / extend challenge in S1 / S2
• Review / amend delivery and procedures re current S2 into S3
• Review / amend S3 courses for future model – extend challenge
• Prepare for current S3 sitting N3 / N4 / N5 in May 2014
Keeping pupil’s learning at the heart of things – classroom practice will
always be the key to success in any model.
Mearns Academy
Curriculum for Excellence
Mearns Academy and Curriculum for Excellence:
Issues and Challenges:
•
Giving widest possible range of personalisation in S4-S6
•
Ensuring pace and challenge in S1-3
•
Resourcing / staff development – a lot happening!
•
Assessment and reporting – clarity and consistency
•
Ensuring parents, partners and employers are aware of revised structure /
qualifications
Mearns Academy
Curriculum for Excellence
Parents and Curriculum for Excellence:
Expressed concerns have included:
•
Schools not ready to deliver new qualifications in 2014
•
Reduction of S4 qualifications will compromise students
•
Too narrow a curriculum in S4
•
Some students in S3 will be under-challenged
Curriculum for Excellence
Mearns Academy
Mearns Academy and Curriculum for Excellence:
Some re-assurance for parents:
The national backdrop and coverage in the press has provoked
understandable concerns.
But
- we will keep you informed about this development
- it is a national development
- all Aberdeenshire schools (and Angus, Aberdeen, Dundee,
Moray) are following this proposed model
- our first priority has always been not to disadvantage any year
group or individual learners
Further information available via:
www.educationscotland.gov.uk/parentzone
www.sqa.org.uk