A “practitioner forum” will be established so that current educational practitioners “play a key role” in the forthcoming review of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), it has been revealed.
A new document setting out the framework for the review - which will to be led by the Organsation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) - has been published this morning by the Scottish government.
The practitioner forum will be led by a nominee put forward by directors’ association ADES and will consist of 12 members.
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According to the papers, the forum will include representatives from the Scottish government, local authorities, teachers, school leaders, higher and further education, and “evaluation and assessment authorities”.
It adds that “focus groups may be set up by the forum on key issues which emerge during the review, and to ensure wide engagement with the teaching profession”.
The document says: “It is important that current educational practitioners play a key role in the review process. In response to the request by OECD for a project advisory group to guide the work and discuss progress and deliverables, the Scottish government will convene a Scottish Practitioner Forum.”
It adds: “Learner voice and participation will also be a significant feature of the review.”
However, a national coordinator from the Scottish government’s Learning Directorate will act as the main contact with the OECD.
The framework says the review of CfE will investigate “key areas and challenges” such as multi-course teaching and the worries that the new qualifications are leading to a narrowing of the curriculum. However, it adds that “the focus of the review is not based around the National qualifications”, echoing comments made by education secretary John Swinney earlier this month.
The review will not investigate the principles and aspirations of CfE, which the document says have “widespread support from practitioners, learners, parents, and politicians”. Rather it will focus on how CfE is being implemented and identify what is working well, as well as the areas that need to be addressed.
The review of the broad general education (BGE) - the phase of schooling from the age of 3 to 15 - will use the OECD’s 2015 review of the BGE as the starting point and “assess progress”.
When it comes to the senior phase - encompassing the last three years of secondary school in Scotland - the review will also consider if there needs to be more prescription in terms of the subjects that pupils pursue. There are concerns that some subjects such as modern languages are being squeezed out.
It will look at the partnerships schools are developing with further education colleges; the extent to which parity of esteem is being achieved in relation to academic and more vocational courses; and how effectively S3 is being used as a transition year in preparing young people for the senior phase.
The review is due to get underway immediately, concluding with a report in February 2021 which will be officially published “at a later date”. It will involve “at least one assessment visit” to Scotland.
