Literacy in Scotland

The key capacities for literacy outlined in Curriculum for Excellence give an indication of the kind of learners we require for the 21st century. To achieve this we need to have creative teaching, creative learning and creative environments.

The two key areas of literacy that we need to concentrate on are, one, the acquisition of the skills and, two, the merits of appreciation, imagination and critical capacity. Too much emphasis on one could compromise two.

In this seminar the key developments in literacy in Scotland will be outlined for delegates. These developments will be set within the context of National Priorities and A Curriculum for Excellence.

Margo Williamson is a Principal Education Officer at Learning and Teaching Scotland. ‘On loan’ from her substantive post as Lecturer in Education at the University of Dundee, Margo is responsible for the national development of literacy and numeracy. She has considerable teaching experience in primary schools, in local authority in-service and development work, and in higher education.

Her areas of expertise and research focus upon language arts, children’s writing, literature and the development of children’s creative capacity.