Scottish education is changing for young people. In August, the new curriculum for children and young people between the ages of three and 18 in Scotland will be implemented.
Curriculum for Excellence is being introduced to raise standards of learning and teaching and help improve children's life chances, equipping young people to meet the challenges of the modern world and apply their skills to whatever lies ahead.
So what does this look like in Orkney schools and how have they been preparing for these changes?
Stromness Academy is combining music and art to give children in S2 a real experience of a Brazilian carnival in the classroom.
The school's music teacher, Lynn Procter's experience of Samba performers (at the Rio De Janeiro Carnival in 2009) has inspired collaboration with the art department to get pupils designing and making colourful head pieces and shoulder pieces to be worn by other students while performing Samba drumming.
The project had a theme of exotic birds of paradise and the children used local willow to make the skeletal structures which was demonstrated to pupils by local artist Frances Pelly in workshops. Recycled materials were used where possible to decorate the willow frameworks.
Brenda Johnstone, PT Art at Stromness Academy, said:
"Linking with the music department has added value and breadth to this project for the pupils and teachers involved. Lynn Proctor's real life experience has allowed pupils a little window into an unfamiliar culture and fuelled their creative ideas and motivation. It has enabled the pupils to make connections between the different subjects and seeing their designs being used in performances will hopefully increase their understanding and enjoyment of collaborative working."
Headteacher, Hilda Learmonth, said Curriculum for Excellence has improved the opportunities for teachers to deliver new approaches to learning for pupils. She said:
"Curriculum for Excellence is building on the best teaching and learning in schools, modernising education to take into account the evolving world around us.
"We want to ensure our pupils leave school equipped with the skills needed for life in the 21st century and Curriculum for Excellence helps teachers teach in a way that is fit for the modern world.
"Teachers are more than happy to talk to parents about any questions they may have about this. We are keen to work with parents closely to ensure their child has a challenging and enjoyable school experience."
Curriculum for Excellence will be implemented in all Scottish nursery, primary and secondary schools as well as colleges from August 2010. For more information on how this will affect your child speak to your child's school or visit www.parentzonescotland.gov.uk.