16/5/08

1. AberdeenshireParentCouncils.co.uk 16/5/08

2. Preparing for the future Educating our children for a changing world

3. It’s all changed ……. ….…since I was at school • Changes in what is being taught • Changes in how children are taught • Different kinds of lessons • Children knowing more about some things than we do.

4. Keeping up with change • ‘Jobs’ and work patterns • Technology and the internet • Environmental concerns • Health and wellbeing • Living together in a ‘smaller’ world

5. What is education for? • Learningtobe • Learning to learn • Learning to live with others • Learning to do UNESCO: Aims of Education

6. The future of education in Scotland The hope is that all Scottish children become • confident individuals • successful learners • responsible citizens • effective contributorsto work and society

7. Discussion Point • Make a list of three activities that you already do at home with your children to help them achieve the four purposes. • What three things do you think that your child’s school does well to help them achieve these.

8. Important Principles • Challenge and enjoyment • Breadth • Progression • Depth • Providing individual choice • Coherent • Relevant

9. Outside school A lot of learning also takes place outside school • at home and within the family • at clubs and in community settings • individually and with friends All of these experiences contribute to a child’s learning and development.

10. What do we mean by ‘Curriculum’? What children and young people do in school • lessons - in primary schools to develop basic skills of reading, writing and mathematics - in secondary schools subjects leading to examinations and qualifications • day to day life of the school community

11. The Curriculum for Excellence • A framework for change • Builds on existing good practice • Not a single document – allows for flexibility • An ongoing process of review and change

12. Who is involved? • Scottish Government • Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) • HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) • Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) • education authorities, schools, colleges, professional associations, researchers.

13. Looking at the curriculum differently. • Ethos and life of the school as a community • Curriculum areas and subjects • Interdisciplinary topics and studies • Opportunities for personal achievement

14. What will this mean for schools? • Learning will take place through planned experiences linking different ‘subject’ areas • Experiences focussed on achieving specific outcomes in terms of knowledge, skills and understanding

15. health and wellbeing • languages • mathematics • sciences • social studies • expressive arts • technologies • religious and moral education

16. What is actually happening? • Specialist groups have developed draft experiences and outcomes in 8 areas for consultation. • Schools and teachers reviewing existing practice trying out new approaches • Implications for assessment, achievement and qualifications being considered.

17. Timescales By June 2008 draft outcomes and experiences available for all areas. Throughout 2008/09 trials and focus groups to test these. From 2009/10 all schools work on developing new curriculum.

18. How can I get involved? • Look out for information about changes • Discuss with your child what they are doing in school. • Think about what you can do to help achieve the four main purposes of education • Try to get involved in what is happening in your child’s school.

19. How can parents help? SPICE Support Patience Interest Challenge Encouragement