National Curriculum

The Education Reform Act of 1988 established, amongst other things, the idea of a National Curriculum (NC) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The National Curriculum set out to “promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society”; and “prepare such pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life”. It introduced Key Stages (periods of school education) with corresponding Attainment Targets (“the knowledge, skills and understanding which pupils of different abilities and maturities are expected to have by the end of each Key Stage”) and Programmes of Study (“the matters, skills and processes which are required to be taught to pupils of different abilities and maturities during each Key Stage”). Whilst there have been changes since 1988, these general structures have largely been maintained.

Ten subjects (plus Religion Education) were set out; and the Act defined a set of ‘core’ curriculum subjects (including mathematics and science) and as well as other ‘foundation’ subjects (including technology).

The Act set out assessment arrangements “for assessing pupils at or near the end of each key stage for the purpose of ascertaining what they have achieved in relation to the attainment targets for that stage”. It emerged that there would be summative assessments alongside teachers’ own assessments; and these took the form of standard assessment tasks (which became known as SATs), or external qualifications such as GCSEs, approved by the Secretary of State or other designated body.

In order to write the content of curriculum itself, the Act established National Curriculum Councils for England and Wales.

Resources

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Aspects of National Curriculum Design and Technology 1991

This report was commissioned by the National Curriculum Council to look at the developments in design and technology education, soon after it was introduced to the National Curriculum. The article outlines some general features of the design and technology curriculum and looks at the importance of managerial as...

The School Curriculum

This report from the Department of Education and Science published in March 1981 sets out the governments recommendations for the school curriculum for the 5-16 age range as a result of several years of public discussion and government consultation. This report predates, but would have influenced the content of,...

National Curriculum - Task Group on Assessment and Testing Report

This booklet, published in 1988, was written in anticipation of the government passing the Education Reform Bill introducing the national curriculum to England and Wales. The new Bill would establish a new system of assessment of students’ progress. Written by the Task Group on Assessment and Testing, this...

The Curriculum From 5 to 16: Curriculum Matters 2

This resource, published in 1985, was the second in a series of discussion documents published by HM Inspectorate intended to stimulate debate about the National Curriculum in primary and secondary schools. It suggests an approach to teaching a broad, balanced, inclusive curriculum for all students.

The...

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