Primary curriculum shake-up

Primary schools should focus on literacy, numeracy and pupils' personal development, a Government has recommended. Sir Jim Rose's review also calls for a smoother transition between nursery and primary school so that children do not face an abrupt change from play-based learning to formal schooling. And it says youngsters are so computer literate that ICT skills usually taught in secondary schools should begin in primaries instead. Sir Jim was asked by schools secretary Ed Balls to conduct a full review of the primary curriculum, although his remit did not include examining testing in schools. His interim report said the curriculum should be less prescriptive and give teachers more flexibility. It said the curriculum should focus more on cross-curricular studies, such as teaching over-arching "themes" that draw in a range of subjects. Children should have more opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills across the curriculum, such as bringing together maths, science and technology. It recommends that all primary children learn a foreign language, but that schools should only focus only on one or two. If possible, pupils should then learn the same language when they reach secondary school. And there should also be a greater focus on children's health, wellbeing and personal development. It also recommends that schools should have a better record of a child's achievement when they begin secondary school, and suggest that summer-born children be given the option of starting school part time. The report proposes six new areas of learning for schools to focus on: Understanding English, communication and languages; mathematical understanding; scientific and technological understanding; human, social and environmental understanding; understanding physical health and well-being; understanding the arts and design. Sir Jim said: "The demands of society on primary schools have risen and continue to rise but if we are to establish a 'world-class' high-quality curriculum, we must face the reality of prescribing less so that teachers can better teach and children can better learn. "What some regard as the piggy-in-the-middle position of the primary years from age five to 11 presents a considerable challenge for curriculum design and choice of content. "While primary education must build on the EYFS and prepare children for education post-11, it is far more than either a postscript to the early years, or a prelude to secondary education."

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ITN | December 8, 2008

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