Putting global citizenship at the heart of Curriculum for Excellence Support for Senior Leaders in Secondary Schools Title
Putting Global Citizenship at the Heart of Curriculum for Excellence – Support for Senior Leaders in Secondary Schools
Provider
Developing Global Citizens Team, Learning and Teaching Scotland
Type
‘Open Day’ study visit
Cost
free
Description
Schools are increasingly becoming aware that the rich contexts and learning approaches associated with global citizenship are a powerful means of engaging with Curriculum for Excellence. In this initiative, selected schools are offering an open door to senior leaders to share how they have led a whole school approach to global citizenship. The school visit is one part of a process of self-evaluation and planning by participants to take forward similar developments in their own context.
Date /Time
24th January – Calderglen High School, East Kilbride 3rd February – Perth High School, Perth th 24 February – Grange Academy, Kilmarnock th 10 March – James Gillespie’s High School, Edinburgh 29th March – Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir Each study visit runs from 10am – 3pm
Duration
1 day
Outcomes
Increased commitment of participants to leading a whole school approach to global citizenship in their own context. Sharing of ideas and practical strategies Development of a professional learning community amongst participants
Sample materials Target Audience
Senior managers, curriculum leaders, Principal teachers leading, or seeking to lead a whole school global citizenship initiative, coordinators for global citizenship, sustainable development education and international education in schools or local authorities
Sector
Secondary
Keywords
Curriculum for Excellence, leadership, global citizenship, sustainable development, international education, whole school approach, self-evaluation
Contact details
To request a place on this opportunity please contact: globalcitizens@ltscotland.org.uk
Background and rationale Global citizenship is at the heart of Curriculum for Excellence. From the core underpinning values of wisdom, justice, compassion and integrity to the framework of experiences and outcomes, global citizenship is embedded in the curriculum. Senior management teams in secondary schools are increasingly seeking to develop global citizenship as a whole school approach so that it is not left to a number of keen individuals whose efforts may not be ‘joined up’. The commitment of the Scottish Government to global citizenship is evident in ‘Learning for Change: Scotland’s action plan for the 2nd half of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development’: ‘The Scottish Government will engage with partners to strengthen the understanding and commitment of school leaders to sustainable development education and global citizenship, promoting a whole school approach and the wider participation of pupils in creating sustainable schools’ Learning for Change: Scotland’s Action Plan for the 2nd half of the UNDESD 2010
In March 2010, the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Mr Mike Russell, made the following statement: In order for Scotland and its people to succeed and flourish in the globalised 21st century in which we live, we must all become and live as global citizens. Mike Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Parliamentary Debate March 2010 Later, he announced a ’10-point plan’ of support for schools to implement Curriculum for Excellence. This included ‘a series of events to allow headteachers to share experience and best practice’. As part of this process of support and of strengthening the understanding and commitment of school leaders to global citizenship, the Developing Global Citizens team at Learning and Teaching Scotland is offering an exciting CPD opportunity for senior leaders in secondary schools to take part in a series of ‘Open Day’ study visits to working schools to discuss and share their journey and to show how they have used global citizenship to develop a whole school approach to Curriculum for Excellence. These schools do not claim to have all the answers but all are committed to engaging in dialogue and in disseminating what they see as valuable lessons learned and the rewards of taking their approach. The schools recognise that they have reached a certain ‘tipping point’ where the vision has become established in the life of the school. While things are still challenging, it is a challenge faced together rather than of the lone champion struggling against the odds.
The visits – a three-part process The visits will not be isolated events but part of an ongoing process of development for participants and a rich experience which will help to cement their commitment to and understanding of global citizenship within Curriculum for Excellence. 1. Pre-visit Each participant will carry out a self-evaluation of their own practice and of their school in relation to global citizenship – with particular reference to leadership. 2. Visit 10 – 15 participants will attend the host school for the day on a programme arranged by the host school on a particular theme or themes. The programme will include the following elements: An opportunity to hear from the Headteacher, other staff and pupils about the school’s journey towards a whole school approach to global citizenship with particular reference to Curriculum for Excellence. Experience of the learning environment of the school including classroom practice. An opportunity to engage with each other in discussion, sharing and reflection. Time to begin planning what action you will take forward for your own leadership development and for your school. 3. Post Visit Each participant will be invited to develop and implement an action plan for themselves and their school with support from LTS and the group as critical friends. Each participant will also continue to share and report on progress through participation in an online community through Glow and/or through a future dissemination event. SQH candidates may wish to consider developing this as part of their project plan.
The Schools Calderglen High School, East Kilbride South Lanarkshire
24th January 2011
Developing global citizens through Games Legacy Calderglen High School in East Kilbride was identified in 2010 as the first Community Sports Hub as part of the national strategy to build the legacy of hosting the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. A focus on community sport has enabled the school to make connections and develop partnerships in the local and global community. An international link with a school in Cape Town through the London 2012 International Inspirations programme is providing a focus for sports leadership development and a context for interdisciplinary learning. The school has also recently been selected as one of only 4 Scottish schools to take part in World Olympic Dreams, a BBC/ British Council initiative to twin schools in the UK with those of high profile athletes – in this case the school attended by Namibian sprinter Merlyn Diamond. This work has enabled the school to enhance access not only to sport and physical activity across the whole school community but also to other learning opportunities. It has helped to develop a positive culture of health and well being across the school community.
Perth High School, Perth and Kinross
3rd February 2011
Building a Curriculum for Global Citizenship Perth High School won the International category in the 2009 Scottish Education Awards. The school has a strong focus on international education, outdoor learning, sustainability and citizenship, a long-standing link with a school in Cape Town, South Africa and is one of 10 Confucius Hubs in Scotland. The Headteacher, Jim Scott, has been a key national player in the ‘Testing the Framework’ self-help group, working with other headteachers to support the development of curricular structures which will deliver Curriculum for Excellence. He has a wealth of experience nationally in curriculum planning and recognises that global citizenship is central to the successful implementation of the new curriculum. Depute Headteacher, Fiona Keatings has also been a crucial player in encouraging and realising the vision, making many of the key contacts which have enriched the school programme.
Grange Academy, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire
24th February 2011
Inclusive, international, environmental: developing global citizens for the 21 st Century Situated in Kilmarnock and sharing a newly built single campus with Annanhill Primary School and Park Special School, Grange Academy has developed a unique whole school approach which weaves together citizenship, sustainability and international education through inclusion, enterprise, health promotion, creativity and outdoor learning. It serves as the Gaelic Hub for East Ayrshire and the Confucius Hub for the “Three Ayrshires” and won the Entrepreneurial Learning Award category in the 2010 Scottish Education Awards. It also accommodates pupils with hearing and visual impairment in the mainstream curriculum. The school has improving international links with a range
of countries and is one of three secondary schools in Scotland to be invited, in partnership with LTS and Tapestry, to participate in the “Silk Road” project. Though this interdisciplinary theme, a focus on music will be the stimulus for learning in other curriculum areas. Morag Ferguson, recently named as “Science Teacher of the Year”, plays a key role in an innovative transition programme and in an ambitious sustainability programme, which aims to raise awareness of environmental issues and change behaviours through a shared understanding of sustainablity education and by encouraging healthy lifestyle choices.
James Gillespie’s High School, City of Edinburgh
10th March 2011
Global Identity and Empowerment James Gillespie’s, as a result of its diverse intake, has had a strong focus for many years on equality and diversity. In 2003, following a visit to Durban, South Africa, The Headteacher, Alex Wallace, set up a partnership with Zwelibanzi High School in Umlazi township. This partnership has become key to the ethos and life of the school. It has been the inspiration for the permeation of global citizenship across curriculum areas, it has informed approaches to interdisciplinary learning and it has offered a powerful means for learners to develop as active, global citizens, making a tangible and positive difference to the lives of others in their local and global community. It has also been a crucial vehicle for building capacity amongst staff. By taking part in international reciprocal visits to South Africa, a significant number of staff have become involved and this has created a shared understanding in the school of the importance of global citizenship in driving forward Curriculum for Excellence. As a result of the impact of this work at local and global levels, the school was won the 2010 City of Edinburgh Children and Families Achievement Awards in the ‘Community’ category.
Websters High School, Kirriemuir, Angus Council
29th March 2011
Developing a shared vision of global citizenship Webster’s High school is situated in the heart of the town of Kirriemuir, Angus. It is therefore central to the community. A clear, shared vision of the school as health-promoting, eco-aware, enterprising and globally-aware is well-established and the Headteacher, Eric Summer’s personal commitment to this vision is a key element of the success in embedding global citizenship across the curriculum. A strong link with Litein High School in Kenya in partnership with an organisation called Kabisa, is helping to strengthen this vision and have an impact on staff and pupils of both schools and on their associate primary schools. Through developing the partnership, the school has built up considerable expertise in building and sustaining international links and using these to enhance the everyday curriculum.