Education Scotland’s “deep” audit of schools’ state of readiness for Curriculum for Excellence last year has been followed by another progress check.
The latest step, due to be completed and returned to Education Scotland today, is not a “specific survey”, but part of agreed arrangements with the education directors’ body ADES for “ongoing dialogue with local authorities on schools’ progress in implementing CfE”, a spokesman said. The approach had been endorsed by the CfE implementation group, he added.
Education directors have been asked to supply information on various questions, including how many schools are still allowing pupils to make subject choices at the end of S2 - a practice which contravenes Education Scotland guidance on the broad general education for S1-3. Some have complained privately about lack of consultation over the process and lack of time to carry it out.
John Stodter, general secretary of the directors’ body ADES, said it was “important that we can give confidence, assurance and comfort” to parents, education authorities and the government over schools’ state of readiness for the curriculum.
Scotland’s largest teaching union, the EIS, is meanwhile carrying out its own survey of secondary and further education members on whether they feel ready to implement the senior phase of CfE and the new National 4 and 5 qualifications.
