ERIC Number: ED539445
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Nov
Pages: 26
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Making Effective Use of Curriculum Flexibility in Primary Schools. Final Report
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education
It is now six years since schools and education authorities were encouraged to review how available time is used to provide all learners with a motivating and challenging experience. Circular 3/2001 "Guidance on Flexibility in the Curriculum" set out the rationale for innovation within the curriculum and the need to think creatively about how best to meet learners' needs. Whilst some primary schools have used the Circular as a catalyst for change, the national picture remains quite limited. More recently, "Curriculum for Excellence" has provided all involved with primary education with a fresh impetus to rethink how they ensure high quality learning for all children in primary schools. This report highlights some of the very good practice about effective use of flexibility in the curriculum that is emerging. It describes how staff have engaged in innovative use of time in ways which have given pupils increased motivation to learn and encouraged them to become more independent learners and more effective collaborative workers. The important role of school managers in monitoring the impact of innovations in the curriculum is exemplified. This report also acts as a call to action for schools which still often adhere too rigidly to inflexible programmes of study. There remains a need for more imaginative leadership and further professional development of staff at all levels to ensure that full and appropriate use of the opportunities offered by "Curriculum for Excellence" are realised. The challenge to all is to reflect upon what has been achieved by some to date and to build on this good practice. Schools and education authorities visited are appended. A bibliography is included. (Contains 6 footnotes.)
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Elementary School Curriculum, Elementary Education, Administrator Role, Student Motivation, Learning Motivation, Educational Improvement, Curriculum Development, Educational Innovation
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education. Denholm House Almondvale Business Park, Almondvale Way, Livingston, EH54 6GA, UK. Tel: +44-014-1282-5000; e-mail: enquiries@educationscotland.gov.uk; Web site: http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (HMIe) (Scotland)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A