National documents

Curriculum for Excellence - the Curriculum Review Group

'A Curriculum for Excellence' sets out the Scottish Executive's vision for transforming Scottish education by 2007. It seeks to establish the values, purposes and principles of education in Scotland for children between the ages of 3 and 18.

Curriculum for Excellence: Progress and Proposals

The purpose of the Progress and Proposals paper is to:

• describe progress and main findings of the activities so far;
• to provide a narrative on the direction of travel, outlining recommended features of the curriculum in the future;
• to outline aspects where more thinking is required;
• to stimulate the next stage of professional discussion and reflection, as part of the continuing process of shaping and influencing the curriculum.

Being Well - Doing Well

'Being Well - Doing Well' is the national framework document for Health Promoting Schools in Scotland.

Choosing our future: Scotland's sustainable development strategy

This strategy sets out the measures that will be taken in Scotland to turn the UK’s 'One future – different paths' framework into action. Policies and programmes are in place to drive change in key areas including 'learning to make Scotland sustainable'.

Education for Citizenship: A Paper for Discussion and Development

This paper is the basis for a national framework for education for citizenship for young people aged 3-18. The perspectives and principles it sets out provide a framework for schools and early education establishments, local authorities, HMIE and others to evaluate the extent and quality of provision for education for citizenship.

Health and Safety on Educational Excursions: A Good Practice Guide

This paper, produced by the Scottish Executive Education Department, is designed to help all those involved in organising educational excursions to ensure that those taking part stay safe and healthy. It reflects and collates existing good practice.

Learning for our Future: Scotland's first action plan for the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development

This report details the first wave of actions to be taken by the Scottish Executive over the next five years in support of the global programme to integrate the priniciples and practices of sustainable development into all aspects of education.

Let's Make Scotland More Active: A strategy for physical activity

This paper outlines a strategy for encouraging people of all ages to be more physically active and sets national targets for physical activity in Scotland. The strategy acknowledges partnership working as the only realistic means of bringing about effective and sustainable change. Active Schools is a particularly relevant partnership.

National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-Being: Action Plan 2003-2006

The action plan highlights the importance of the school setting for promoting mental, emotional and social health and well-being.

Natural Heritage Futures

Natural Heritage Futures (Scottish Natural Heritage, 2002) aims to guide the future management of the natural heritage towards 2025, within the wider context of sustainable development.

Out there

'Out there' is a sportscotland statement and policy position on countryside sports. The purpose of 'Out there' is to inform of sportscotland policy position on, and its aspirations for, countryside sports.

Report of the Review Group on Physical Education

This report, published by the Scottish Executive in 2004, states: 'A good quality physical education can: include all children and young people, whatever their cultural background and physical and cognitive abilities, enhance social inclusion and engagement in school life, develop pupils' confidence and self-esteem, contribute to the social life of the school and its ethos, provide foundation skills and knowledge for a lifetime of activity.'

Scotland's Culture: Scottish Executive Response on the Cultural Review

The Commission's study was based on the premise that each person in Scotland has rights of access to high-quality cultural activity. The right to choose from options that can be provided locally and nationally is paramount; but if marketing, education and interpretation are not present too, the rate of 'take up' is likely to be impaired.

Know the Code before you go - enjoy Scotland’s outdoors responsibly

Everyone has the right to be on most land and inland water providing they act responsibly. Your access rights and responsibilities are explained fully in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

For anyone in the outdoors or managing the outdoors, the key things are to take responsibility for your own actions, respect the interests of other people and care for the environment.

Find out more by visiting the Outdoor Access website or phoning your local Scottish Natural Heritage office.

Sport 21: 2003-2007

Sport 21 is the National Strategy for Sport in Scotland. Originally introduced in 1998, it provides a vision for the development and delivery of Scottish sport over the coming years. Four years into the strategy, it was considered timely to review it in order to evaluate its impact and update it. The review involved a year-long consultation with partners and the updated strategy, Sport 21: 2003 – 2007 was launched by sportscotland on behalf of the Sport 21 National Implementation Forum and Scottish sport in March 2003.

Taking Learning Outdoors: Partnerships for Excellence

This report considers how to prove the value of outdoor learning and how to improve its quality, capacity and access.