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Curriculum for Excellence (Scotland) - views

(3 posts)

  1. Jonathan Firth
    Member

    Particularly for teachers/FE lecturers in Scotland, I was wondering if anyone would like to share their views on the CforE changes which are just around the corner.

    As I understand it, Higher Psychology will remain, Intermediate 2 will be replaced by a new National 5 course, and Intermediate 1 will be scrapped but partially replaced with a general Social Sciences National 4. It is likely that course content and assessment will change significantly (the new courses are published in 2012 to start teaching in 2013 for National and 2014 for Higher).

    Also, Psychology (along with Sociology and Philosophy) have been put in the 'Health and Wellbeing' curriculum area - it is unclear what effect if any this will have on the new course content or skills.

    Update on SQA progress with the new qualifications available here: http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/42233.2636.html

    Posted 1 year ago #

  2. Sophie Adams
    Member

    Having just completed my probation year in Scotland as a PE teacher (assisting with Higher psychology), I have had years of training on CfE I feel there are many pros and cons.
    The new structure allows for much more flexibility not only within own subjects and departments, but on a cross curricular level (with sciences and sports etc). Particularly when it comes to completing the coursework part of Higher Psychology.
    With regards fitting in with the health and well being sector, I feel they have put psychology there to cover the mental well being which seems a bit daft is psychology is about more than just mental health issues.
    Having currently moved back south of the border to teach psychology I feel safer having a set curriculum to follow as I like having that structure.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  3. Jonathan Firth
    Member

    That's interesting, thanks Sophie.

    I think when it comes to flexibility, it will be interesting to see the detail - having a bit more choice in courses sounds good, but how will it be examined?

    As for cross-curricular links, that is already heavily encouraged where I work, but it only goes so far because of timetabling constraints etc. Plus I think the bottom line will remain: one course, one exam.

    You may be right about health and wellbeing, though I don't think the course content will be all mental health! It is a very broad section of the curriculum and I wondered if the motivation was to have some more academic/senior courses under that umbrella, as most of the subjects are more oriented to earlier years of secondary school.

    Jonathan

    Posted 1 year ago #

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