5-14 guidelines
The 5-14 guidelines for Scottish local authorities and schools cover the structure, content and assessment of the curriculum in primary schools and in the first two years of secondary education. Schools are not legally required to follow the guidelines.
The 5-14 curriculum is divided into five broad curricular areas: language, mathematics, environmental studies, expressive arts and religious and moral education. For each curricular area there are broad attainment outcomes, each with a number of strands or aspects of learning that pupils experience. Most strands have attainment targets at five or six levels: A-E or A-F
The aim of the 5-14 programme has been to promote the teaching of a broad, coherent and balanced curriculum that offers all pupils continuity and progression as they move through school.
Thinking about Curriculum for Excellence
Curriculum for Excellence is the Scottish curriculum review programme which aims to produce a streamlined educational experience for pupils from 3 to 18 years old.
Curriculum for Excellence aims to enable all pupils to develop their capacities as: successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors to society.
The new Curriculum for Excellence guidance will eventually replace the 5-14 national guidelines.
See the 5-14 Curriculum section on Curriculum for Excellence for more information on what teachers can do now to prepare for the transition.
Links to the 5-14 guidelines
Social subjects exemplification
These examples of pupils' work in social subjects have been arranged by strand and level and accompanied by short commentaries, to help teachers gather and interpret evidence for classroom assessment.
Use these materials in conjunction with the environmental studies guidelines.
Printed copies