Teaching in Scotland : Curriculum

A revised curriculum known as the Curriculum for Excellence  has been implemented in Scottish schools from the academic year 2010/11 and will continue to be phased in over the next few years. This will provide a single, coherent curriculum for all pupils aged 3-18 and aims to increase the emphasis on numeracy, literacy and pupil choice. Subject areas are expressive arts, health and wellbeing, languages, mathematics, religious and moral education, sciences, social studies and technologies.

Compulsory education begins in primary schools at the age of five, and the move to secondary school takes place at age 12. Compulsory education ends at age 16, although most pupils stay in education until the age of 18. The school year begins in August rather than September.

Further details are available from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) .

See Learning and Teaching Scotland  for more information on the new curriculum.