Social studies – Second level (Curriculum for Excellence, Scotland): What to Teach (Scotland)
Your Teacher Information Pack for Social studies – Second level (Curriculum for Excellence, Scotland) in Scotland: the curriculum structure, our short summaries with links to the official wording, and key dates.
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- Country
- Scotland
- Level
- Second level
- Ages
- 8/9–11/12
- Source
- Curriculum for Excellence – experiences and outcomes (broad general education)
- Last checked
- 2026-10-20
Usually P5, P6, P7 (a guide, not a fixed year group). Roughly US Grades 4–6 (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.
People, past events and societies
- SOC 2-01a Selecting primary and secondary sources for research.
- SOC 2-02a Interpreting evidence across periods for Scotland's heritage.
- SOC 2-03a Investigating how a Scottish theme shaped society.
- SOC 2-04a Comparing a past society with my own.
- SOC 2-06a Why past people and events mattered, in sequence.
People, place and environment
- SOC 2-07a Scotland's main landscape features and how they formed.
- SOC 2-07b Natural disaster processes and their impact.
- SOC 2-08a Human environmental impact and responsible living.
- SOC 2-08b Pros and cons of a proposed land development.
- SOC 2-09a Pros and cons of transport and their environmental impact.
- SOC 2-10a Presenting places to live, work, relax, and visit.
- SOC 2-12a Weather and climate compared with a contrasting area.
- SOC 2-13a How physical environment influences land use.
- SOC 2-14a Interpreting maps and locating key features.
People in society, economy and business
- SOC 2-15a Selecting evidence to research current issues.
- SOC 2-16a How a local community group's needs are met.
- SOC 2-16b Forms of discrimination and their impact.
- SOC 2-16c Diversity of cultures, values, and customs.
- SOC 2-17a Features of democracy and citizens' rights in Scotland.
- SOC 2-18a Elections and the work of representatives.
- SOC 2-19a Lifestyle and culture compared with another country.
- SOC 2-20a Ethical trade and meeting basic needs worldwide.
- SOC 2-21a Essential goods, services, and payment methods.
- SOC 2-22a Setting up and running a business, and sharing roles.
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.
Official documents
- education.gov.scot/Documents/social-studies-eo.pdf
- education.gov.scot/curriculum-for-excellence/curriculum-for-excellence-documents/experiences-and-outcomes
Trusted free resources
- Education Scotland – the official curriculum site.
- BBC Bitesize – videos and quizzes by nation and stage.
Links only: we don't copy their content and we aren't connected to these organisations.
More packs
Social studies – Early level · Social studies – First level · Social studies – Third level · Social studies – Fourth level · P1 Social studies · P2 Social studies · P3 Social studies · P4 Social studies · 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.