Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) has been implemented in Scottish Schools since 2010 and as seen many consultations developing into an entire framework of learning for Scotland. The Benchmarks and ASN Milestones are further additions to the framework.
As CfE developed and the Experiences and Outcomes were rolled out across each level, new challenges were faced and teachers took on the task of interpreting what and how the new curriculum should be taught and how an Experience and Outcome is assessed in order to contribute toward achieving a level.
There were many discussions on evidence and what that could consist of, and schools managed to assemble a vast array of material in a few short years to bring to fruition a skills-based educational system that sought to empower young people to learn in a flexible manner, equally giving teachers the necessary freedoms of topic choice and local history to support CfE.
Education Scotland announced that they would provide Benchmarks in June 2017 to Teachers in order “to provide clarity on the national standards expected within each curriculum area at each level.”
According to Education Scotland,
"Their purpose is to make clear what learners need to know and be able to do to progress through the levels, and to support consistency in teachers' and other practitioners' professional judgements.”
(12/07/2017 - https://education.gov.scot/improvement/curriculum-for-excellence-benchmarks)
The Benchmarks were not to be used as a checklist to ensure a pupil achieves each one, but rather to be used as a way of obtaining a structured approach to overcoming the Experiences and Outcomes and reaching a standard of education from which all educationalists and practitioners can effectively work.
The "Curriculum for Excellence 2.0” app brings you the Benchmarks and ASN Milestones in a way that allows the user to see the benchmarks associated with an area of the curriculum or with a specific E and O. Assembled from the Education Scotland website on 3 July 2017, the Benchmarks and ASN Milestones have been arranged within the app so as to not distract the user from the original E’s and O’s, rather providing clarity on how to achieve them.
There have been major updates to the Curriculum for Excellence from when it first appeared in the educational establishments of Scotland. The app has the new updated Technologies E’s and O’s as well as providing short notes, when applicable.
The much-needed Benchmarks were added and alongside them, the ASN Milestones have made for a more comprehensive resource.
The app is designed to assist with Lesson Planning, Cross-Curricular Planning, and School development meetings, as well as useful for the odd parent night in explaining a pupil's achievements and how they relate to the curriculum directly. (and more uses for sure)
While every effort has been made to ensure the information is correct at the time of release, should an issue become apparent please contact the developer in order for it to be corrected by using the email link within the app.
All curriculum information within the app is the property of the Scottish Government and Education Scotland and has merely been assembled in a way that allows for the convenient use of the Experiences and Outcomes with Benchmarks.
Should additional information be required on the Benchmarks or Curriculum for Excellence, then please visit the Education Scotland website. (A link from inside the app will assist with the exact web address should you require it.)
Note:
This app is a development of the original Curriculum for Scotland app which can also be found in the Play Store. The original app displays only the essential elements of the Curriculum for Excellence excluding additions. This app, Curriculum for Excellence with Benchmarks, builds into it the Benchmarks and ASN Milestones provided by Education Scotland.
