Murrayburn follows the key principles of ‘Curriculum for Excellence’ which has been developed in response to the National Debate on Education. Teaching and learning through Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) will provide opportunities to develop key capacities in pupils to become:-

• Successful learners
• Confident individuals
• Effective contributors
• Responsible citizens

The focus is on active learning approaches throughout the curriculum. The curriculum is a carefully planned programme designed to achieve the right balance of basic skills, essential knowledge and informed attitudes. The Curriculum for Excellence also promotes interdisciplinary approaches to learning. The curriculum includes:-

• languages & literacy – covers the skills necessary for communication: listening, talking, reading and writing. Children are encouraged to express their ideas and are given opportunities to develop this expression through speech and writing.
• mathematics & numeracy – children learn ‘mathematics’ concepts gradually and the pace of learning is determined by the ability of the individual child. In any one class children may be working at different levels. Mathematics includes work on mental arithmetic, number, money, measure, shape position and movement as well as information handling and problem solving. There is an emphasis on active learning with concrete materials and working with peers. Throughout the school, pupils receive daily activities involving mental maths, learning different strategies and applying them to solve problems.
• religious and moral education –
• health and well being – we encourage healthy living and healthy choices for life.  The beginnings of health and well-being in education take place at the earliest possible stages, in the early years and in the home. Children are guided towards an awareness of the needs of others and they learn the importance of sharing, waiting their turn and co–operating with others.
• science,  social subjects and technology – through these subjects, children gain knowledge and understanding of the world around them. These subjects begin in the early years with the children’s known world, their families and their immediate surroundings. As they progress through the school, their horizons are gradually widened and their knowledge extended and deepened. Their own world is then compared with other environments past and present. Children are frequently taken on outings related to their classroom work, including the zoo, outdoor centres, museums, theatres and art galleries.
• expressive arts – the art and design curriculum involves pupils investigating materials and media; expressing ideas and solutions; and understanding, appreciating and sharing in the product of others. Children are encouraged to enjoy and participate in all types of music making and music appreciation. Opportunities for this are given within general classroom work and through the various school productions which all pupils are involved in at some point during each school year.

Active Learning

In Primary 1 and 2 the classrooms are designed with a young child’s need for movement, creativity and learning firmly in mind. Children are encouraged to ‘choose’ activities through structured active play and the activities available are carefully designed to allow for the teaching and development of language, number, motor and social skills. Active play continues into Primary 2 and beyond.