The Department for Education has issued an official communication to schools on the National Curriculum. The statement outlines the current position on the primary curriculum and also Key Stage 3 level descriptions. You can read the full statement on the Department for Education National Curriculum webpage: www.education.gov.uk/curriculum

In relation to the primary curriculum, it states that the government does not intend to proceed with the new primary curriculum, based on the recommendations of Sir Jim Rose’s Independent Review which was accepted by the previous government.

The introduction of statutory languages in Key Stage 2 from September 2011 was part of the proposed new primary curriculum. Therefore Key Stage 2 languages do not currently have the legal status to become statutory in September 2011.

The advice to schools is that ‘the existing primary curriculum will continue to be in force in 2011/12 and schools should plan on that basis.’  As such, the entitlement to learn a foreign language in Key Stage 2 still stands, having come into effect this year.

Further developments will be announced on the Department for Education National Curriculum webpage: www.education.gov.uk/curriculum This page also provides answers to some frequently asked questions many of which relate to the primary curriculum.