Management Information Sheet
Primary Curriculum Development Seminars
As you are aware the previous government accepted recommendations put forward by Sir Jim Rose to implement a new primary curriculum from September 2011. You will also be aware that Department for Education (DfE) ministers announced on Monday 5th June that the new government does not intend to proceed with the proposed new primary curriculum.
DfE ministers feel that schools should be given more freedom from prescription and bureaucracy. With this in mind the government intends to return the national curriculum to a minimum national entitlement organised around subject disciplines. The next steps in this process will shortly be announced on the DfE's website at www.education.gov.uk.
In the meantime, the existing primary curriculum will continue to be in force in 2011/12 and schools are expected to plan on that basis. With this in mind, you may wish to re-read the first chapter in the National Curriculum handbook which refers to the aims, values and purposes of the curriculum and the section on learning across the curriculum (pp10-24). This affirms that the current framework, introduced in 2000, provides flexibility for schools to adapt the curriculum to their needs.
Schools are not expected to now stop developing their curriculum. The contrary is likely to be the case as they are being given greater freedom from prescription. The local authority will continue to offer schools the Curriculum Development Seminars (which were originally Curriculum Countdown Seminars). The main purpose of these seminars remains unchanged and some schools might now consider it even more necessary to use them as a medium for hearing first hand from successful headteachers across England, about the impressive range and diversity of successful curriculum approaches already happening, based on the current National Curriculum.
They remain an important and unique, lively forum for headteachers and curriculum co-ordinators to come together:
to be inspired by inspirational headteachers
to learn about a range of highly successful curriculum approaches that are based on the current national curriculum
to gain and share important local, national and regional information that will support the school's curriculum development
to take part in informed discussion and debate around curriculum development and design issues and opportunities
to become aware of a range of ongoing curriculum guidance and support that will help schools to audit, plan and develop their own curriculum (whilst ensuring at least the minimum national entitlement)
The seminars will enable a dialogue with inspirational and well informed speakers, e.g. The Curriculum Foundation (Mick Waters, Brian Male) and OFSTED (Robin Hammerton, HMI).
New speakers will be brought in at appropriate times in response to the evolving educational changes, in order to help schools stay well informed about local, regional and national curriculum influences and changes. Curriculum courses outlined in the PIPP will be subject to similar revisions.
We are fortunate to already have these Curriculum Development seminars in place for at least the next four terms, as an ongoing and supportive mechanism through which schools can come together termly to learn, reflect and discuss curriculum matters, at a time of significant educational change.
DfE ministers feel that schools should be given more freedom from prescription and bureaucracy. With this in mind the government intends to return the national curriculum to a minimum national entitlement organised around subject disciplines. The next steps in this process will shortly be announced on the DfE's website at www.education.gov.uk.
In the meantime, the existing primary curriculum will continue to be in force in 2011/12 and schools are expected to plan on that basis. With this in mind, you may wish to re-read the first chapter in the National Curriculum handbook which refers to the aims, values and purposes of the curriculum and the section on learning across the curriculum (pp10-24). This affirms that the current framework, introduced in 2000, provides flexibility for schools to adapt the curriculum to their needs.
Schools are not expected to now stop developing their curriculum. The contrary is likely to be the case as they are being given greater freedom from prescription. The local authority will continue to offer schools the Curriculum Development Seminars (which were originally Curriculum Countdown Seminars). The main purpose of these seminars remains unchanged and some schools might now consider it even more necessary to use them as a medium for hearing first hand from successful headteachers across England, about the impressive range and diversity of successful curriculum approaches already happening, based on the current National Curriculum.
They remain an important and unique, lively forum for headteachers and curriculum co-ordinators to come together:
to be inspired by inspirational headteachers
to learn about a range of highly successful curriculum approaches that are based on the current national curriculum
to gain and share important local, national and regional information that will support the school's curriculum development
to take part in informed discussion and debate around curriculum development and design issues and opportunities
to become aware of a range of ongoing curriculum guidance and support that will help schools to audit, plan and develop their own curriculum (whilst ensuring at least the minimum national entitlement)
The seminars will enable a dialogue with inspirational and well informed speakers, e.g. The Curriculum Foundation (Mick Waters, Brian Male) and OFSTED (Robin Hammerton, HMI).
New speakers will be brought in at appropriate times in response to the evolving educational changes, in order to help schools stay well informed about local, regional and national curriculum influences and changes. Curriculum courses outlined in the PIPP will be subject to similar revisions.
We are fortunate to already have these Curriculum Development seminars in place for at least the next four terms, as an ongoing and supportive mechanism through which schools can come together termly to learn, reflect and discuss curriculum matters, at a time of significant educational change.