Curriculum Update
The Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, has today launched a statutory consultation on the draft legislative Order for the new national curriculum. The most important change regarding languages has been the removal of the list of prescribed languages at primary, meaning that schools are free to choose any modern or ancient language they wish to teach for the four years of Key Stage 2.
The Department for Education’s review of the national curriculum in England began in January 2011, and from February – April 2013, the DfE consulted on the draft programmes of study for all National Curriculum subjects in Key Stages 1-3, including languages. Over 17,000 submissions were received from a wide range of respondents.
– You can view the summary report of those responses, along with the government response (including an update on the implementation of the new national curriculum) here.
The Department for Education have made a number of revisions to the national curriculum framework document and the draft programmes of study in response to this consultation.
– You can view the new framework document and programmes of study (along with the consultation document on the Order for the new national curriculum and details of how to respond) here.
The consultation will close on 08 August 2013.
The government has also previously confirmed that the majority of the current national curriculum will be disapplied from September 2013, to give schools more scope to prepare for the introduction of the new national curriculum from September 2014.
– The teaching of all national curriculum subjects will remain compulsory, but schools will be able to choose to either follow the existing programmes of study or adjust them to support transition to the new national curriculum. You can read more information about disapplication here.
The regulations which will give effect to this change have now been laid before Parliament and will come into force on 01 September 2013.
Further information and comment:
Department for Education: The School Curriculum
ALL: The story so far: progress on the National Curriculum Review in England, 2011-2014
ALL and the National Currirulum Review
BBC website: Gove sets out ‘core knowledge’ curriculum plans
BBC website: New curriculum in England ‘to match world’s best’
Independent: Michael Gove brings back 12 times tables in new curriculum.