In Scotland the Curriculum for Excellence is being introduced for all 3 – 18 year olds.  It aims to achieve a transformation in education by providing a coherent, more flexible and enriched curriculum from 3 to 18.

The curriculum includes the totality of experiences which are planned for children and young people through their education, wherever they are being educated. It is underpinned by the values inscribed on the mace of the Scottish Parliament - wisdom, justice, compassion and integrity. The purpose of Curriculum for Excellence is encapsulated in the four capacities – to enable each child or young person to be:

•  a successful learner,

• a confident individual,

• a responsible citizen, and

• an effective contributor.

It aims to:-

• raise standards

• preparing our children and young learners for the future in a fast changing world  

• simplify and prioritise the current curriculum

• encourage more learning through experiences

• create a single framework for the curriculum and assessment 3-18.

If you would like to learn more about the Curriculum for Excellence, visit the Learning and Teaching Scotland website at:-   www.ltscotland.org.uk/curriculumforexcellence

The implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence is an ongoing process in which staff at the Royal Blind School have invested significant time since 2008. This investment has been reflected in presentations by staff and pupils at national events including amongst others :-

•  Scottish learning Festival September 2008,

• ‘Going Boldly….’ A community of Good Practice in Special Schools and Units across Scotland, November 2008,

• Testing the Framework, 2009,

• Opening Doors to Employability,

• Plough to Plate (Home Economics) , 2010.

This school session, teachers have produced the final draft of ‘A Comprehensive Curriculum Framework to meet the needs of all our Learners’ and have contributed to the development of a revised curriculum rationale and policy. Both will be finalised and in place for the start of the 2010 – 2011 session. A staff working group is also taking forward the development of a new format of Individualised Educational Plan to reflect curricular changes and more effectively integrate learning targets across all areas of pupils’ school lives.