Western Isles parents to receive letter from education secretary

A letter from Education Secretary Michael Russell will land on the doorsteps of parents with pupils in P7 across the Western Isles this week.

Mr Russell will give parents further information about Curriculum for Excellence, including examples of how subjects can be linked, the new qualifications, and what will change and what will not.

Mr Russell said: “As Curriculum for Excellence is being put into practice in schools this August, it’s important that parents know how it will improve their child’s education. That’s why I have written to all parents of primary 7 pupils, highlighting the main points about the new curriculum. My letter builds on the parental toolkit which helps schools tell parents about the changes and delivers another part of my ten point plan. It is good that schools are organising events for parents. The laws of physics and rules of French grammar will remain the same, so no one needs to think that everything in use now has to be re-thought or re-written.  That is emphatically not the case; Curriculum for Excellence is more about method than content. Curriculum for Excellence will build on the current strengths of Scottish education and make sure our young people are resourceful, adaptable, flexible, confident and responsible. It will give them the skills they need for the jobs of the future and make sure they – and Scotland – will be in a stronger position to succeed in a global economy.”

“Primary and secondary”

Schools in the Western Isles are currently preparing for implementation of Curriculum for Excellence in August 2010.

Councillor Morag Munro, chair of education and children’s services at Western Isles Council, said:  “I welcome this initiative by the Cabinet Secretary.  In the Western Isles we are actively involved in publicising Curriculum for Excellence and have distributed our own explanatory leaflet to parents.  Headteachers have also been promoting the new curriculum through Parent Councils.  The letter from the Cabinet Secretary is a very valuable addition to these efforts and will help to highlight the benefits of CfE for pupils.”

A parent toolkit and leaflets are also available to explain what Curriculum for Excellence will mean for children at each level – early years, primary and secondary.

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