Today, the government launched a comprehensive review of the
National Curriculum in England for key stages 1 to 4 (ages 5 -
16 years).
The review will look at all subjects currently
within the National Curriculum. Religious Education will not form
part of the review and will retain its statutory basis, with
similar considerations applying to PSHE which will be
evaluated by a separate internal review examining how schools may
be supported in the teaching of this subject.
The National Curriculum Review will be
conducted in two phases:
English, maths, sciences and PE will all
remain statutory from KS1 to KS4. Phase 1 will provide new
programmes of study for these subjects and also evaluate the status
of all other current curriculum subjects, including whether they
should remain in the curriculum, and if so at which key stages and
with what kind of programmes of study.
Phase 2 of the review will provide draft programmes of study for
all other curriculum subjects, based on the outcomes of Phase
1.
The Department
for Education (DfE) has invited stakeholders to respond
to the Phase 1 call for evidence from 20 January 2011. There
will follow consultation events for key stakeholders as well
as work to ensure that heads, teachers, parents and others can
contribute their views towards the reform.
A public consultation on Phase
1 will occur in early 2012 with the new programmes of study to be
introduced in schools in September 2013.
The Phase 2 call for evidence
will be launched in early 2012, followed by a public consultation
on Phase 2 programmes of study in early 2013. The programmes of
study for these subjects will be introduced in schools in September
2014.
The Department for Education will be supported in the review
process by an Advisory Committee. An Expert Panel led by Tim
Oates (Director of Assessment Research and Development, Cambridge
Assessment) has also been appointed to provide an evidence base for
the review, informed by international practice.
For further information, please visit the
Department for Education website.