Delay new curriculum or we won't be able to bring it in, fear teachers

TEACHERS are demanding the Scottish Government delays introducing the new school curriculum amid concerns it will prove impossible to implement under the current timetable.

The Curriculum for Excellence was expected to be used by every school from next August, but teachers say it cannot be done in the time available.

At a meeting of the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association Council on Saturday, a motion was passed calling for a delay until August 2010.

Ann Ballinger, SSTA president, said the final shape of the curriculum would only be available in June or July next year – just weeks before every school is expected to implement the Curriculum for Excellence in August 2009.

She said: "There has been a gradual slippage in the timetable since Curriculum for Excellence was introduced.

"First we were going to get outcomes within six months, then a year. I don't think it was anyone's fault, it just took a lot longer than they had expected and, of course, there was a change in government.

"But they are potentially giving us an impossible timescale. If we get the final proposals sometime this session, with SQA's model for how the exams look, and we have a full year for teachers to look at that and work out how to implement it, then it might be possible."

The call for a delay is the latest concern expressed by senior educational professionals and organisations about the curriculum in recent months.

In May The Scotsman revealed huge confusion had led some headteachers at independent schools to say they would not introduce the curriculum until they considered it ready, an option which headteachers at local authorities do not have.

Teachers' unions have been united in their concerns about the new curriculum, which is expected to radically change the way Scottish children are taught. The EIS has warned there is not enough resources or funding for implementation. And parents expressed concern that their children could be treated as guinea pigs unless they were consulted.

Writing in The Scotsman in May Fiona Hyslop, education secretary, said: "Between now and next year, we will be engaging with teachers and other professionals before the new guidance is finalised for the academic year 2009-10. We expect all schools to be using Curriculum for Excellence from August 2009."

So far, only draft guidance, known as outcomes, as they detail the expected outcome of a child's learning in each subject, has been published. That is currently out to consultation and the final versions are expected to begin to be published from January.

Plans to ditch the Standard Grade and Intermediate qualifications to be replaced with a new general exam have also caused confusion. Teachers say they need to know the format of the new exams before they can implement the new curriculum as it will have a knock-on effect on how the pre-exam years are taught.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The timetable for Curriculum for Excellence is currently being finalised. Advice will be put to ministers in the coming weeks and an announcement will be made in due course."

A whole new school of thought

A NEW approach to education is being promised by the new school curriculum known as the Curriculum for Excellence.

A key aim is to move away from a tick-box mentality which teaches to test rather than create inquisitive minds. Independent thought will be rewarded over feats of memory.

There will be a greater cross-curricular emphasis with pupils writing an essay for English, perhaps based on a topic they are studying in history, or a lesson in Ancient Egypt may see maths focusing on pyramids.

Greater effort will be made to make lessons relevant to pupils' lives today, hence the introduction of text-messaging and internet blogs in literacy lessons.

Along with the new curriculum will be changes to exams. The Standard and Intermediate Grade will be replaced by a new General exam from 2012 to provide a better stepping stone to Highers, which will remain the "gold standard" exam.

First to third year are expected to change, with Generals only beginning in fourth year.

In an attempt to remove the problem of second year being seen as a dead year, rather than study every subject for the first three years, pupils will have those subject rotated. First to third years will study fewer subjects, but will study a differing range of subjects each year.

Compulsory literacy and numeracy exams will also be introduced for all school leavers.

TIMELINE

2002 – Scottish Executive undertakes extensive consultation on state of education in Scotland.

NOVEMBER 2003 –Ministers establish the Curriculum Review Group.

2004 – Review group creates concept of a new curriculum called A Curriculum for Excellence.

MAY 2005 – Work begins on updating all areas of the current curriculum known as the 5-14-year-old Guidelines.

SEPTEMBER 2006 – Draft guidance expected to be released on the curriculum.

DECEMBER 2006 – Schools pilot elements from the guidance on the curriculum.

SEPTEMBER 2007-MAY 2008 – Draft guidance published.

SCHOOL YEAR 2008-9 – Planning is finalised and implementation begins.

SCHOOL YEAR 2009-10 – Schools work on delivery of the new curriculum.

AUGUST 2010 – The date until which teachers would like Curriculum to be delayed.