Supporting Teachers Through Curriculum Reform
Scotland is undergoing the most significant review of the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) since it’s introduction in 2004 with the curriculum reform.
This isn’t to replace, but to strengthen and enhance what exists.
The aims of this are to improve learner progression, and support the development of knowledge and skills needed for the future.
The Curriculum Improvement Cycle – being led by Education Scotland – is creating wider reforms to qualifications and assessment following Professor Louise Hayward’s review and recommendations.
What’s changing?
Clearer curriculum guidance
The existing Experiences and Outcomes are being refreshed. New guidance will offer clearer expectations on what learners should know, understand, and be able to do at each step in their learner journey. This should create a more consistent approach across schools.
More emphasis on knowledge and skills
Instead of a sole focus on skills, this update will make the links between knowledge, skills and understanding more explicit – aiming to ensure learners not only build a solid subject knowledge, but can also apply it in a meaningful context.
A smoother journey
The overall curriculum, assessment and qualifications are being redesigned together; this should see smoother progression from BGE into Senior Phase.
Clearer for teachers
New progression frameworks should make planning and assessment easier for teachers to manage, and should offer clearer guidance on how learning develops over time.
What’s new?
New technical framework
The new format will eventually replace the current Experiences and Outcomes, and Benchmarks – it will make progression clearer and allow for more intuitive planning.
Focus on future-ready learning
The refresh will pay extra attention to preparing young people for a rapidly changing world, and incorporate artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, sustainability, digital capability and skills for learning, life and work.
Co-creation
Unlike previous iterations, the reform is developed in collaboration with teachers, local authorities and partners.
The core principles of Curriculum for Excellence remain firmly in place:
- The Four Capacities
- The Broad General Education (BGE)
- Interdisciplinary Learning
- Personalisation and Choice
Where can Gen+ support?
With the curriculum reform creating more opportunities for learners to develop meta-skills, participate in meaningful learning experiences and prepare for learning, life and work; Gen+ lends itself to the classroom-ready resources that teachers across Scotland will be looking for.
Greater emphasis on transferable skills
The Gen+ programme provides a structured curriculum around nine core meta-skills giving schools a common language and progression model.
Clearer progression for 3-18
Whilst the Gen+ Learn course spans P6 – S3, these are flexibly designed and can be used up or down the school to suit your setting. The format allows skills to be developed and revisited over time rather than isolated activities.
Evidence of skills development
Lessons all include opportunities for reflection, supporting learners to recognise, articulate and demonstrate their progress.
Teacher workload
Gen+’s materials are all fully resourced. With all activities, worksheets and lesson plans included, this reduces planning time whilst retaining the flexibility for teachers to adapt content to suit their young people.
The curriculum reform signals a shift in teaching styles for 2026 and for the future, Gen+ can support you to ensure you’re equipped and ready to embed meta-skills across your teaching, and enhance learning outcomes for your young people.
You can sign up on our app to get started right away, or get in touch to find out more.
