Curriclum for Excellence

Scotland’s curriculum, Curriculum for Excellence, places learners at the heart of education. At its centre are four fundamental capacities (Successful Learners, Confident Individuals, Responsible Citizens and Effective Contributors). These capacities reflect and recognise the lifelong nature of education and learning. 

• They recognise the need for all children and young people to know themselves as individuals and to develop their relationships with others, in families and in communities.

• They recognise the knowledge, skills and attributes that children and young people need to acquire to thrive in our interconnected, digital and rapidly changing world.

• They enable children and young people to be democratic citizens and active shapers of that world.

As part of their learner journey, all children in Scotland are entitled to experience a coherent curriculum from 3 to 18, in order that they have opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to adapt, think critically and flourish in today’s world.

'Curriculum' is defined as the totality of all that is planned for children and young people from early learning and childcare, through school and beyond. That totality can be planned for and experienced by learners across four contexts:

• Curriculum areas and subjects

• Interdisciplinary learning

• Ethos and life of the school

• Opportunities for personal achievement