Curriculum for Excellence is the name given to the curriculum in Scotland for all children and young people aged 3-18. It is a forward looking, coherent, more flexible and enriched curriculum that provides young people with the knowledge, skills and attributes they will need if they are to flourish in life, learning and work, now and in the future.
The curriculum includes all of the experiences that are planned for children and young people to support the development of their skills, wherever they are being educated, for example in the family and community, pre-school centre, nursery and school. This will allow them to become successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors to life beyond education.
In taking this forward our school will work closely with South Lanarkshire Education Resources and other services to enable Curriculum for Excellence to be fully embedded, ensuring the best possible education for all children and young people. We wish you to feel confident that your child is encouraged and supported to develop their literacy, numeracy and other skills whilst they attend our school. The curriculum areas are as follows:
- Expressive arts
- Languages and literacy
- Health and wellbeing
- Mathematics and numeracy
- Religious and moral education
- Science
- Social studies
- Technologies
All pupils are taught in line with all six entitlements, within subject areas and their learning is enhanced with opportunities for learning beyond subject boundaries i.e whole school events such as Burns Supper, Annual Summer BBQ, Christmas Cafes, Health Promotion, Eco Schools, Enterprise, Rights Respecting School, assemblies and interdisciplinary opportunities such as two or three subjects working towards one outcome to gain certification.
Literacy, numeracy, health and well-being and DYW Skills are the responsibility of all involved in the life of the school. Learners have many opportunities to gain wider achievement through the varied experiences built into the curriculum. The curriculum incorporates our positive school ethos through regular celebration of personal and collective achievement, within and out with the school community.
If you want to know more about Curriculum for Excellence, please see What is Curriculum for Excellence or Parentzone.
Our learning and teaching activities are based on the outcomes and experiences in the guidelines that all schools have for Curriculum for Excellence and provide access to SQA National Qualifications. As well as the formal curriculum, pupils are provided with opportunities to develop independence, social skills, develop as a young workforce and responsibility and are encouraged to be assertive and confident as they move through the school.
Pupils are encouraged and motivated through a positive ethos and climate of respect and trust based upon shared values across the community.
Curriculum Design at Sanderson
Sanderson pupils follow individual pathways/routes throughout their learner journey. Classes are streamed according to ability to allow pupil needs to be met and raise attainment. This allows pupils to follow either pathway/route 1,2 or 3 and to go between depending on subject area. Our curriculum design has been highlighted on Education Scotland’s National Improvement Hub as Interesting Practice.
A Broad General Education (BGE) is followed throughout S1- S3:
Every S1-S3 pupil has the opportunity to experience every curricular subject area – including our unique ‘Education for Work’ programme – through the junior phase of their education. These experiences and subsequent outcomes are planned, personalised, assessed (see our Assessment Policy), tracked and monitored to allow personal achievement at every level and planning for the Senior Phase. Every learner will experience interdisciplinary learning and community learning. The curriculum is wide ranging and inclusive. Our complex learners’ curriculum is based on life skills and sensory experiences, assessed through individual milestones as advised by South Lanarkshire’s ‘Framework for Supporting Pupils with Severe and Profound Learning Needs‘. Every pupil will have a profile featuring their strengths and skills S1-S3.
A Senior Phase is followed from S4 to S6:
The senior phase will provide specialisation and prepare the pupil for the highest level of qualification of which they are capable. This includes learning respect for one another and the development of the confidence to make informed choices. The phase will involve partnerships with other providers, such as colleges, work-based training providers and employers as well as the opportunity for every child to have a supported work placement (work experience). There are opportunities to develop skills for learning, life and work (Developing our Young Workforce) with a continuing focus on literacy, numeracy and health and well-being. Learners have the opportunity to experience planned, accredited, interdisciplinary, cooperative and active learning. They choose between Science and Drama, Art or Music and Home Economics or Science to specialise in throughout their Senior Phase. We also have optional Masterclasses in French, History and RME in the Senior Phase. Senior Pupils also experience discrete lessons in Wider Achievement where they learn life skills such as Independent Travel with GPS devices keeping them safe, how to pay bills and budget and all skills are accredited. Every pupil will have a profile featuring their strengths and skills S4-S6 which will help them build a CV. The curriculum will provide support in moving to future learning or employment.
Specialisation built into curriculum
- Access to community/ business partnerships- work days, visits, PSE lessons.
- Subjects or curricular opportunities based on strengths and interests- water play, sensory time, gaming, Beauty/self care, horseriding, in-house work experience, individual college experiences in construction, horticulture, drama, lifeskills, reading, nurture group.
- Inclusion in Calderglen classes that may not be available in Sanderson or that are at higher level.
- Higher certification classes in History and Art to allow gifted pupils to reach potential.
- 1-1 Meeting times with PT Pastoral Care for those who need this in theor curriculum
- Intervention groups
- Forest Schools
- Sports Leaders Awards
- National Sports competition participation- with school teams and with community teams
- Prefect Activities and responsibilities
- TEACCH tasks in quiet space if needed