A key topic of discussion at the conference at Celtic Park in Glasgow will be the development of the Scottish education through Curriculum for Excellence, for all young people aged between three and 18.

The Scottish Government event will see the launch of ‘Building the Curriculum 3: A Framework for Learning and Teaching’, a document aimed at all those in Scotland involved in children and young people’s learning.  As well as Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop, Dr Harry Burns, Chief Medical Officer and Graham Donaldson, the Chief Inspector of Schools will address the conference. 

Speaking ahead of the conference Hyslop said:

"By bringing together and integrating support across all services for young people, we can address underlying issues of poverty, deprivation and health inequalities, which contribute to underachievement. This way we can achieve our aim of helping all young people in Scotland to take their place in a modern society and economy."

She added:

"At a national level, the Government will be providing a framework for reform which will ensure that Scotland's education system delivers the most it can for every one of our young people, with additional support and guidance for those who need it.

"However, the responsibility for bringing Curriculum for Excellence to life is a shared one.

"Effective reform must come from local authorities taking ownership and working with schools, teachers and other partners. It is teachers and those working directly with young people who are best placed to meet the needs of individual learners and school leaders and local authorities have a responsibility to provide support in helping them deliver."

The Consultation on the proposed new qualifications framework, the Next Generation of Qualifications for Scotland’s Young People, will also be launched at the conference.  The consultation is expected to run from this month until the end of October.   

Commenting on the qualifications consultation, Hyslop said:

"To meet our ambition of creating an education system which embraces all abilities and improves outcomes for all our young people we need a robust qualifications system that supports Curriculum for Excellence's aspirations.
 
"There is no doubt that we are entering one of the most dynamic times in Scottish education in a generation. With the momentum which we have created behind us, we are determined that every young person's abilities will be to the fore."

David Raffe, Director of Research in the School of Education at the University of Edinburgh and a former member of the Curriculum for Excellence Programme Board, said:

"Building the Curriculum 3 provides the clear statement that is needed of the new structure of secondary education and especially the distinction between S1-S3 and the senior phase.  It is important to maintain the momentum of Curriculum for Excellence in secondary schools and to ensure that the consultation on qualifications is appropriately informed."