CfE Implementation Group
Role, Purpose and Constitution
1.
Role and purpose
The Implementation Group brings together those who are directly responsible for major
aspects of delivery of CfE and provide a mechanism for identifying and jointly addressing key
issues with a view to resolving them and so achieving successful outcomes through the
implementation of CfE. It plays a central role in ensuring safe delivery. It seeks to achieve
alignment and coherence across the programme, and maintains an overview of progress with
delivery in line with the CfE programme requirements.
2.
Membership
Membership comprises senior representatives of the key bodies which are accountable for
major aspects of the implementation of CfE, namely:
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Education Scotland
Scottish Government
Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)
Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES), representing Directors of
Education
Scotland's Colleges
The Group is chaired by the Chief Executive of Education Scotland and the Secretariat is
provided by Education Scotland.
3.
Functions
The overall purpose of the Group is to keep under review the extent to which the programme
is meeting the aims, purposes and principles of CfE, analysing key issues that need to be
tackled and identifying strategies to address these.
The Group will:
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seek to ensure alignment between the strands of development within CfE, and
actively promote alignment, including alignment of communications, between CfE and
key national priorities such as the Donaldson Review National Partnership Group,
GIRFEC and the post-16 reform programme
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use the first annual report on progress as a baseline, identify areas of priority for
further support to ensure safe delivery, and plan approaches to address these (for
example through targeted capacity building, professional development, production of
resources and/or exemplification of successful practice) taking into account available
resources and business planning within the various organisations
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consider the reports from the monthly programme management meetings, including
the risk register, and agree actions which may need to be taken to ensure safe
delivery
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ensure that the CfE programme plan reflects the agreed priorities and continue the
rolling development and annual dissemination of the national implementation plan
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ensure alignment between the forward plan and its communications and agree and
implement an aligned approach to communications as appropriate across partners,
identifying key gaps where communications activity may be required and making
recommendations on areas where Ministers might focus attention
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provide reports to each Management Board meeting on progress and risks to
successful implementation, and bring forward issues for consideration to the Board,
including escalation of risk if necessary
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submit an annual report to the CfE Management Board on progress and identify and
commission any additional sources of evidence which may be needed to inform
developments and monitor progress and impact.
In its activities it will makes use of evidence on effective practice and ensure a focus on
securing the best outcomes for children and young people.
4.
Frequency of meetings
The Group will meet approximately every two months or in line with the major milestone
delivery as outlined in the programme plan.
5.
Accountabilities and Governance
5.1
Accountability
Overall accountability for the delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence plan lies with
Scottish Government. It achieves this accountability principally through the CfE
Management Board.
Each national body or organisation is individually accountable for its contributions to
the implementation of CfE through its own accountability and governance
arrangements (for example as an NDPB, or a Government Agency).
The organisations also have collective responsibility: while they retain individual
accountability and ownership for delivery of their own aspects of the plan, they will
work in partnership to ensure delivery of the programme plan and to support each
others’ endeavours. The Implementation Group is an important forum for seeking to
ensure that these collective accountabilities and responsibilities are fulfilled.
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5.2
Governance and programme management
A single CfE programme plan captures the key milestones, dependencies,
deliverables and timescales for the programme. The CfE Programme Manager is
responsible for maintaining and managing the plan, receiving reports from each of the
accountable officers on progress against the plan; raising risks or associated issues
if progress is not satisfactory; and providing regular collated highlight reports on
progress, risks and issues to the Implementation Group and, when necessary, the
CfE Management Board. These national programme management functions will
transfer to Education Scotland.
The Chair of the Group has established a small, discrete, programme management
function to support the Implementation Group. It reports directly to him and will operate
separately from Education Scotland’s CfE programme delivery and governance
structures. This provides assurance that there is clear separation of roles, and in
particular that the ability to challenge is not compromised.
The Senior Accountable Officer (SAO) group, which comprises representatives
from SQA, Scottish Government and Education Scotland, meets monthly. The SAO
meetings take place between those of the Implementation Group and will continue to
be used to report on progress against the plan and to highlight slippage or risks which
may have an adverse impact on delivery. The SAO group will report to the
Implementation Group on progress and risks. The meetings of the SAO continue to
be chaired by the CfE Programme Manager.
Each of the member organisations will continue to have its own internal governance
arrangements for its projects. Education Scotland and SQA continue to develop and
manage their own individual plans for delivery, including monitoring and managing
risks.
6.
Relationship to Management Board and other groups
6.1
Management Board
The CfE Management Board will maintain oversight of the Curriculum for Excellence
reform programme and continues to report directly to Ministers on overall progress.
The Implementation Group will report to the Board on its activities, progress and risks
to successful implementation, and will bring forward issues for consideration by the
Board.
The Management Board will continue to be chaired by Sarah Smith, Director of
Learning, Scottish Government, who reports to Scottish Ministers on overall progress
of Curriculum for Excellence.
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6.2
Communications Group (‘Smarter’ Group)
The CfE Communications Group, which comprises Scottish Government, SQA and
Education Scotland, and will report to the Implementation Group on events and raises
priorities for communications activities with the Group.
6.3
NAR Governance Group
The NAR Governance Group is chaired by the SQA. This Group sits as a project
within the CfE Programme Plan and its reports are made through the programme
governance structures.
6.4
Assessment Governing Group
Scottish Government Learning Directorate will continue to chair the Assessment
Governance Group and reports as necessary to the Implementation Group. This will
be reviewed in March 2012.
7.
Subgroups/Short-life working groups
The Implementation Group may establish sub-groups and/or short-life working groups as
required to ensure safe delivery and effective governance. They will engage with and include
representatives from other organisations and services as appropriate.
8.
Review
The Implementation Group will ensure regular review of its operations and impact, and agree
any necessary changes in order to maintain its effectiveness and efficiency.
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Appendix A: Curriculum for Excellence Management Board
The CfE Management Board was formed in 2007 to oversee the significant programme of curriculum
change in Scotland. Its membership comprised representatives from HMIE, LTS, ADES and Scottish
Government. At the request of the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, its
membership was expanded in August 2008 to include key stakeholders in Scottish Education. There
are currently sixteen members:
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Scottish Government (Chair and Secretariat)
Education Scotland
Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)
Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS)
Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (SOLACE)
Scotland's Colleges
Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS)
School Leaders Scotland (SLS)
Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES)
General Teaching Council Scotland (GTCS)
Skills Development Scotland (SDS)
Deans of Universities’ Faculties of Education
Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS)
National Parent Forum Scotland
Community Learning and Development Network
Universities Scotland
The Management Board is supported by a number of sub-groups which provide vehicles for
governance and advice on specific issues. Current groups are:
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Assessment Governance Group: responsible for the overall delivery of Scottish
Government assessment policy for the CfE framework
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NAR Governance Group: ensures that the delivery of the NAR technical project
conforms with all appropriate governance arrangements.
Other sub-groups have been formed and disbanded as required to deal with specific issues or
prepare additional advice for Management Board consideration and subsequent publication where
appropriate.
Examples are the Curriculum Governance Group, which was responsible for overseeing the delivery
of the experiences and outcomes and was disbanded following their publication in April 2009, and
short-life groups on new qualifications and reporting.
In addition, Scottish Ministers have established a Stakeholder Group and practitioner and other
forums to gather views on progress with implementation. These arrangements will continue.
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Appendix B : Implementation Group Membership and Roles
Education Scotland

Accountable to Scottish Ministers for leading and supporting the CfE implementation
programme, including leadership of the Implementation Group, and development and
oversight of the governance arrangements for the programme plan, with its risk
management and reporting.

Accountable to Scottish Ministers for the delivery of key aspects of the CfE
programme plan including:
o
Agreed aspects of support for new national qualifications
o
Assessment including arrangements for quality assurance and moderation
o
Support and capacity building in areas of priority (in partnership with others
and as agreed with local authorities), including those outlined in the Cabinet
Secretary’s Refresh [Action?]Plan 2011
o
Reporting on findings from continuing review of the curriculum
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Responsible for evaluating and reporting on progress with implementation to the CfE
Management Board, Scottish Government core, and publicly.
Scottish Government
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Overall accountability for the implementation of CfE
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Responsible for advising and reporting on policy
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Responsible for considering implications of the Implementation Group decisions /
recommendations for current and future policy
Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)
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Accountable to Scottish Ministers for the development and delivery of the new
qualifications framework
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Responsible for reporting to CfE Implementation Group on progress in the
development and implementation of new qualifications framework
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Responsible for chairing the NAR Governance Group.
Directors of Education; the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES)

Directors are responsible as officers of their respective Education Authorities for the
provision of school education and improvement in the quality of education
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ADES will gather and communicate the views of Directors of Education and work
with them to provide evidence of progress on CfE implementation for monitoring
purposes
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ADES representatives will report to Directors of Education on overall progress, risks
and issues in implementation.
Scotland's Colleges
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Responsible for supporting, advising and reporting on implementation of CfE in
Scotland’s Colleges.
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