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Statement of education improvement objectives
2007 to 2008 is the final year of the Education Department's current four year planning cycle. This summary document of our service improvement plan reflects our statutory obligation to produce a local education improvement plan related to the national priorities. It is now also incorporated into the annual update of the integrated children's services plan which we submit to the Scottish Executive each April.
The council's key aims within the priority theme, encouraging lifelong learning, provide the framework for our service. These key aims reflect our on-going commitment to continuing improvement to services and performance. These are:
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To improve the learning system
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To raise achievement
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To support social inclusion
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To improve people's prospects
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To support community learning and development
We have grouped our priorities or planned improvement actions under each key aim. This forms the department's improvement agenda for 2004 to 2008.
Curriculum for excellence
The national curriculum for excellence aspires to enable all children to develop their capacities as successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors to society. It establishes clear values, purposes and principles for education in Scotland from pre-school to the end of secondary school and into lifelong learning. Its aims are to:
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Agree a future structure of assessment and qualification;
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Significantly de-clutter the curriculum, particularly in key areas of primary;
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Restructure the curriculum in key areas of early secondary;
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Introduce new skills-for-work courses for 14-16 year olds; and
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Reform the way we record young people's achievement.
This is a new chapter for education in Scotland. While affirming many of the methodologies in early years, it challenges every sector in education to respond positively.
The Education Department has already implemented many of the above as part of the 'Raising Achievement for All' strategy and is continuing with a major in-service and awareness raising programme to support a curriculum for excellence and changes it will bring about. We intend to carry out a review of the existing curriculum to make sure it reflects curriculum for excellence guidance.
Assessment is for learning
Assessment is for learning began in 2002 with the overall aim of creating a streamlined and coherent system of assessment to ensure pupils, parents, teachers and other professionals had the feedback they needed about pupils' learning and development needs. It promotes increased children's involvement in their own learning (including those with additional support needs), and of parents as co-educators. Experience indicates that deep learning is more likely to happen when people work together in this way. Currently AifL is focusing on any combination of the three strands:
The department is setting up associated schools groups to begin to make explicit links between different strands of assessment and the four purposes of a curriculum for excellence.
Gaelic medium education
We continue to meet our targets and this remains a priority. Our priority for 2007-2009 is to develop a Gaelic language plan on behalf of the authority.
You can access PDF copies of the Summary of Service Improvement Plan 2004-2008 by using the "Download or Request by Post" box at the right hand side of the screen.
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