Curriculum Change A summary of recent activity and some questions....

Previously.... Primary Review cancelled at last minute KS3 curriculum ongoing English Baccalaureate - ‘performance measure’ in 2010 Concerns over marking and examiners’ comments

Sunday - Telegraph Core subject curriculum to be delayed until 2014 and aligned with Geography etc. ‘Gold standard’ - international comparisons Implications for curriculum planning in schools (3 years - any changes ‘not used again’)

Report Published Monday 19th Dec After most schools have broken up - timing!

The panel

Some contents History, Geography and Languages all compulsory until 16 ? “High expectations for all”

Daily Mail - “forced” Lessening choice Marginalising other subjects....

Demands shake-up... It recommended that all pupils in England should study geography, history and a foreign language between the ages of 14 and 16, in some form, even if their courses did not lead to full GCSEs. Currently, these subjects are optional at this age group as England’s curriculum becomes too specialised too early, the report said. As a result, many young people are “deprived of access to powerful forms of knowledge and experience at a formative time in their lives”, it said.

Irrelevant ?

The GA Curriculum Consultation Curriculum Report, written by Andrea Tapsfield and David Lambert Group of GA activists to be working during Spring term 2012 (including me...)

http://www.geography.org.uk

Questions What will the new curriculum look like ? Implications for teacher training when numbers being cut on many courses ? Humanities courses ? iGCSE tempting people away from more traditional routes ? “it is essential then that the review seeks to reverse the hierarchy that has allowed the curriculum to be driven by tests and tables...” - Mary Bousted - ATL

2014 What will the school curriculum look like ? What support do colleagues need over the next 3 years ? How will they meet ? Online support such as Vital Teachshare + F2F ? Impact on current cohorts that will experience it or not ?

In other news... “Are you chewing boy ?” Sir Michael Wilshaw said teachers should set an example and dress in a ‘professional’ manner. He added: ‘I think it’s patronising to children for staff to dress poorly.’ (Daily Mail)