The Scottish Government Review Group report states, “The curriculum reflects what we value as a nation and what we seek for our young people. It should enable all of the young people of Scotland to flourish as individuals, reach high levels of achievement, and make valuable contributions to society.”

The report defines four purposes of the curriculum: that children and young people should be:

1.  Successful learners with

• enthusiasm and motivation for learning
• determination to reach high standards of achievement
• openness to new thinking and ideas

and able to

• Use literacy, communication and numeracy skills
• Use technology for learning
• Think creatively and independently
• Learn independently and as part of a group
• Make reasoned evaluations
• Link and apply different kinds of learning in new situations

2.  Confident individuals with

• self respect
• a sense of physical, emotional and emotional wellbeing
• secure values and beliefs
• ambition

and able to

• Relate to others and manage themselves
• Pursue a healthy and active lifestyle
• Be self aware
• Develop and communicate their own beliefs and view of the world
• Live as independently as they can
• Assess risk and take informed decisions
• Achieve success in different areas of activity

3.  Responsible citizens with

• respect for others 
• a commitment to participate responsibly in political, economic, social and cultural life

and able to

• Develop knowledge and understanding of the world and Scotland’s place in it
• Understand different beliefs and cultures
• Make informed choices and decisions
• Evaluate environmental, scientific and technological issues
• Develop informed, ethical views of complex issues

4.  Effective contributors with

• an enterprising attitude
• resilience and self-reliance

and able to

• Communicate in different ways and in different settings
• Work in partnership and in teams
• Take the initiative and lead
• Apply critical thinking in new contexts
• Create and develop
• Solve problems

The development of these capacities and capabilities by young people will depend strongly upon four main factors

1. the professionalism of teachers
   
2. the environment for learning
   
3. the choice of teaching and learning approaches
   
4. the ways in which learning is organised by way of experiences and curricular contexts.

Teachers in Glasgow have already been making important progress in both the choice of teaching and learning approaches and in the organisation of learning experiences, but we should not forget that it is the actual teaching environment and the professional approach of teachers which is the most important.

If we can get that right, if teachers can establish and maintain really positive and productive relationships with the learners, then the rest will follow.

A Curriculum for the Future

A Curriculum of Excellence

Principles for Curriculum Design

Influences and Factors