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Expressive arts – Third level (Curriculum for Excellence, Scotland): What to Teach (Scotland)

Your Teacher Information Pack for Expressive arts – Third level (Curriculum for Excellence, Scotland) in Scotland: the curriculum structure, our short summaries with links to the official wording, and key dates.

Country
Scotland
Level
Third level
Ages
11/12–14/15
Source
Curriculum for Excellence – experiences and outcomes (broad general education)
Last checked
2026-10-20

Usually S1–S3 (third and fourth levels are both covered in S1–S3) (a guide, not a fixed year group). Roughly US Grades 7–9 (approximate).

Plan the whole year: open this course in the Year Planner – every lesson dated around your term dates, with a coverage check. Free.

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What to teach

Below are the experiences and outcomes with their official codes, in our own short summaries. Each code links to the official document.

Participation in performances and presentations

  • EXA 3-01a Using expressive arts skills in a public performance or presentation.
  • EXA 3-01b Enjoying being an audience member for others' work.

Official wording

Art and design

  • EXA 3-02a Experimenting with media, applying understanding of their properties.
  • EXA 3-03a Combining visual elements to convey ideas and feelings.
  • EXA 3-04a Producing accurate representations through observing and recording.
  • EXA 3-06a Developing imaginative design solutions through a design brief process.
  • EXA 3-07a Discussing art responses and giving and accepting constructive feedback.

Official wording

Dance

  • EXA 3-08a Creating and taking part in dance from varied styles and cultures.
  • EXA 3-11a Discussing dance experiences and giving and accepting constructive comment.

Official wording

Drama

  • EXA 3-12a Creating and sustaining realistic or stylised characters.
  • EXA 3-14a Contributing to devising, rehearsing, and presenting drama from ideas.
  • EXA 3-15a Discussing drama experiences and giving and accepting constructive comment.

Official wording

Music

  • EXA 3-16a Performing chosen music confidently using notation or playing by ear.
  • EXA 3-17a Improvising or composing using melody, harmony, and structure.
  • EXA 3-19a Identifying music features and commenting on own and professionals' work.

Official wording

Assessments and key dates

Qualifications Scotland exams 2027: Mon, 26 April 2027 to Thu, 3 June 2027 (timetable). There are no national tests of curriculum levels; teachers judge progress using the Benchmarks.

Trusted free resources

Links only: we don't copy their content and we aren't connected to these organisations.

More packs

Expressive arts – Early level · Expressive arts – First level · Expressive arts – Second level · Expressive arts – Fourth level · P1 Expressive arts · P2 Expressive arts · P3 Expressive arts · P4 Expressive arts · All Scotland packs · Find another TIP

Codes and structure from Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes and Benchmarks, Education Scotland (Crown copyright). Summaries are Classfern's own words – always read the official wording via the link.

No official wording is reproduced: codes and structure are facts, and the short descriptions are our own summaries. Always read the official wording via the links. Checked on 2026-10-20.

Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by Education Scotland, Qualifications Scotland (formerly SQA) or the Scottish Government.