Key Themes

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Policy Overview

Curriculum for Excellence aims to achieve a transformational change in education in Scotland by providing a coherent, more flexible and enriched curriculum from 3-18, with learners' needs at the heart of planning and delivery and designed to enable all young people to develop the four capacities.  In doing so, it will offer better educational outcomes for all young people, providing More Choices and More Chances for those who need them.

The Scottish Government's More Choices, More Chances Strategy aims to:

  • ensure that Curriculum for Excellence provides opportunities to young people under 16 that are tailored to individual need, with flexibility and appropriate support for every young person;
  • ensure that every young person has a clear pathway from school into learning post-16; with supported transitions and sustained opportunities;
  • ensure that learning is a financially viable option, by considering the financial support and incentives available to young people;
  • ensure that the right support is available to young people to find out about, engage with and sustain learning and employment;

  • make a joint commitment to action between central and local government, employers, learning providers and support agencies to develop the service infrastructure required to meet the needs of vulnerable young people.

All of these actions are about ensuring that young people are able to access the universal services from which they should benefit, aligning mainstream systems to cater for all young people including those who need additional support.

16+ Learning Choices is our model for helping young people stay in learning post-16. It will help build capacity in individuals, families and communities; and will support economic growth in Scotland.  Critically, it will help prevent and reduce youth unemployment. 16+ Learning Choices ensures an offer of post-16 learning for every young person who wants it and appropriate support for as long as it's needed.  This might be staying at school, going to Further  or Higher Education, taking part in a national training programme, volunteering, getting a job or engaging in community-based learning, including personalised approaches.