The National Curriculum for England is the statutory standard of school subjects, lesson content, and attainment levels for primary and secondary schools in England. It is compulsory for local authority -maintained schools, but also often followed by independent schools and state-funded academies . It was first introduced by the Education Reform Act 1988 as simply The National Curriculum and applied to both England and Wales. However, education later became a devolved matter for the Welsh government.
35-425: The National Curriculum for England has been updated multiple times since its introduction. As of 2024, the current version in use dates from 2014. The Education Act 2002 sets out the statutory duty for schools to offer a school curriculum that is balanced and broad-based, that "promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society" and that prepares pupils for
70-664: A child must meet all requirements to be awarded the band grade. The judgements available at Key Stage 2 differ for the subjects because of the different roles played. Writing has most available judgements as it is part of the statutory accountability judgement. Reading and mathematics have fewer judgements as the statutory focus is on the test scores. Science has only one available judgement, as at Key Stage 1. The grades available, therefore, are: The National Curriculum only extends to pupils in Years 1 to 11 of compulsory education in England. Outside of
105-529: A decision to disapply the statutory Programmes of Study for the foundation subjects from September 1998, to allow schools to spend more time teaching literacy and numeracy. The Secretary of State, David Blunkett , later announced another overhaul of the National Curriculum, particularly at primary level, to reduce the content in foundation subjects allowing more time to be spent on the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science. A new National Curriculum
140-622: A full key stage. The assessments were introduced only for the core subjects of English, mathematics and science. The first assessments in Key Stage 1 were a range of cross-curricular tasks to be delivered in the classroom, known as standardised assessment tasks - hence the common acronym 'SATs'. However, the complexity of the use of these meant they were quickly replaced by more formal tasks. The assessments in Key Stages 2 and 3 were developed using more traditional tests. In all 3 Key Stages, tests became
175-685: A high standard of teaching will be given exemption national controls such as the national curriculum , agreements on teachers' pay and conditions and the way the scheduling of the school day and terms. Schools designating or re-designating as specialist schools could now gain specialisms in Business and Enterprise , Engineering , Mathematics and Computing and Science . The act imposes various minimum standards for private schools in areas such as health and safety and space requirements. Identify school funds National Curriculum assessment The National Curriculum assessment usually refers to
210-491: A lifetime. It means mitigating as far as possible the disadvantages that may be suffered through poor home conditions or physical or mental handicap. Are we aiming in the right direction in these matters? The first statutory National Curriculum was introduced by the Education Reform Act 1988 by Kenneth Baker . The Programmes of Study were drafted and published in 1988 and 1989, with the first teaching of some elements of
245-479: A selected sample of pupils to monitor national performance in science; the results of these tests are reported to their future secondary schools and parents by June. The test is taken in May. In addition to the tests, teachers are required to provide teacher assessments in the core subject areas of reading, writing, mathematics and science. As at Key Stage 1, these judgements are based on a framework of descriptors, for which
280-500: A significant degree of autonomy areas such as wages and digressing from the national curriculum. Academies were originally set up under the Learning and Skills Act 2000 under the name "city academies", and were renamed to "academies" by this act. Schools which have innovative ideas to improve education, but are prevented by an existing law from implementing them, will be able to apply for exemption from that law. Schools which demonstrate
315-409: Is just one of the many elements in the education of every child. There is time and space in the school day and in each week, term and year to range beyond the national curriculum specifications. The national curriculum provides an outline of core knowledge around which teachers can develop exciting and stimulating lessons to promote the development of pupils’ knowledge, understanding and skills as part of
350-457: Is no test available for science. During May of Year 6 , the final year of Key Stage 2, children in state-funded schools (and independent schools if they so choose) undertake three National Curriculum Tests: Reading; Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling; and Mathematics . Writing is assessed solely based on teacher judgement against the assessment framework, following the recommendations of the 2011 Bew Review. Science tests are taken biennially by
385-575: The Early Years Foundation Stage , where children are aged under 5, assessment takes place using a separate framework. There is also a times table test in Year 4 which was held for the first time in 2022 after COVID-19 delayed the original idea. The two main teaching unions spearheaded a boycott of the tests in 1993. In a 2008 report evaluating and analysing National Testing, the House of Commons ,
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#1732858566619420-550: The Select committee and the Department for Children, Schools and Families registered its concern with the current testing arrangements in state schools. It raised concerns that the "professional abilities of teachers" were under-used and that the high-stakes nature of the tests led to "phenomena such as teaching to the test , narrowing the curriculum and focusing disproportionate resources on borderline pupils." They further recommended that
455-461: The "matters, skills and processes" which must be taught at the relevant Key Stages. The most recently published National Curriculum was introduced into schools in September 2014. Children in all Key Stages must additionally be provided with a curriculum of Religious Education , and for pupils in Key Stages 3 and 4 a curriculum of Relationship and Sex Education must also be provided. In addition to
490-535: The "opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life". The National Curriculum is designed to be one part of such a school curriculum. The statutory documentation for the National Curriculum presents two main aims: 3.1 The national curriculum provides pupils with an introduction to the essential knowledge they require to be educated citizens. It introduces pupils to the best that has been thought and said, and helps engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievements. 3.2 The national curriculum
525-499: The 2000 curriculum pending review. Following his appointment as Education Secretary in 2010, Michael Gove commissioned an expert review panel to report on a framework for a new National Curriculum. The review was led by Tim Oates of Cambridge Assessment , and reported in December 2011. It suggested significant changes to the structure of the National Curriculum, including dividing Key Stage 2 into two shorter (two-year) phases. In 2013,
560-538: The best of their ability for a lively, constructive, place in society, and also to fit them to do a job of work. Not one or the other but both... Both of the basic purposes of education require the same essential tools. These are basic literacy, basic numeracy, the understanding of how to live and work together, respect for others, respect for the individual. This means requiring certain basic knowledge, and skills and reasoning ability. It means developing lively inquiring minds and an appetite for further knowledge that will last
595-766: The child has not yet met the expected standard for his/her age. Each judgement band is illustrated in the Teacher Assessment framework documentation by a number of descriptors of performance. To achieve a given standard, pupils must achieve all of the descriptors within that band. For pupils with Special Educational Needs a separate judgement may be made using a separate grading system known as P-levels. Judgements in reading, writing and mathematics are supported by test papers which are administered during May of Year 2. The reading and maths tests are statutory for schools. Schools can choose to use an optional Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling test to support judgements in writing. There
630-475: The compulsory subjects, students at Key Stage 4 have a statutory entitlement to study one modern language and at least one subject from: In a 1976 speech at Ruskin College , Prime Minister James Callaghan launched what became known as the "Great Debate". The speech has been called "revolutionary" in the context of its time, and said to have "lit a flare that has illuminated education reform ever since". The speech
665-467: The end of Key Stage 3 (14-year-olds) in secondary schools after which they were scrapped. The assessments were introduced following the introduction of a National Curriculum to schools in England and Wales under the Education Reform Act 1988 . As the curriculum was gradually rolled out from 1989, statutory assessments were introduced between 1991 and 1995, with those in Key Stage 1 first, following by Key Stages 2 and 3 respectively as each cohort completed
700-413: The end of Key Stages 1 and 2. At both key stages the process includes a combination of tests and teacher assessment judgements. The first round of assessments in the new model was undertaken in 2016. There are two elements to the statutory assessment process in Key Stage 1: tests and teacher assessment. The tests are used only to support teacher's judgement; it is the teacher assessment which is recorded as
735-544: The government announced that testing in Key Stage 3 was to be scrapped altogether. In 2013, then Education Minister , Michael Gove announced that when the new version of the National Curriculum was introduced to schools from 2014, the system of attainment levels would be removed. As a result, since 2016, the old system has levels that are no longer used as part of statutory assessment. Instead, tests and teacher assessments now follow different models at each key stage. National Curriculum Assessments are now carried out only at
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#1732858566619770-405: The government produced a draft National Curriculum, followed by a final version in September 2013, for first teaching in September 2014. Due to the short timescales for introduction, the curriculum was introduced only for certain subjects and year groups in 2014, with the core subjects in Years 2 and 6 (the final years of Key Stages 1 and 2) only becoming statutory in September 2015, to allow time for
805-700: The introduction of new testing arrangements at the end of the Key Stages. Similarly, core subjects at Key Stage 4 were introduced on a year-by-year basis starting in September 2015 for English and Mathematics, and September 2016 for Science. Education Act 2002 The Education Act 2002 (c. 32) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that gave schools greater autonomy to implement experimental teaching methods. The act significantly amended legislation relating to academies , publicly funded schools operating outside of local government control and with
840-431: The main form of statutory assessment, but a separate strand of Teacher Assessment was also used. This allowed teachers to make judgements about pupils they taught, based on their knowledge of the pupil's learning and attainment against the attainment targets contained within the national curriculum. The results of both tests and teacher assessments were reported using a common scale of attainment levels, numbered 1 to 8 across
875-618: The multiple uses of National Curriculum assessment – for local accountability, national monitoring, and individual progress measurement – be separated into different forms of assessment. Two leading unions, the NUT and the NAHT (though not the NASUWT ), voted to boycott the tests in 2010, which resulted in a quarter of schools not administering the tests. These unions wanted to see the tests replaced by teacher assessment. Parents and children have also proposed
910-399: The new curriculum beginning in September 1989. Moreover, the curriculum was viewed as an opportunity to promote cultural and moral values. Under Gillian Shephard 's tenure as Education Secretary, a review of the National Curriculum was launched in 1994, led by Ron Dearing . Its objective was to find ways to 'slim down' the over-detailed curriculum. The final report set out the need to reduce
945-470: The primary curriculum, based on a review to be led by Jim Rose. The review proposed replacing the 10 statutory subjects in Key Stages 1 and 2 with 6 broader 'areas of learning', such as "understanding English, communication and languages" and "human, social and environmental understanding". However, following the change of government in 2010, the plans for this change — proposed to begin in September 2011 — were abandoned, with schools advised to continue to follow
980-399: The statutory National Curriculum assessment in years 2 and 6, the only other centrally collected assessment data is from GCSE exams, usually taken in Year 11, and from the phonics screening check in Year 1. For pupils in other year groups there are no centralised assessments, although schools are free to use tests and examinations either of their own making, or purchased from a supplier. In
1015-517: The statutory assessments carried out in primary schools in England, colloquially known as standard assessment tasks ( SATs ). The assessments are made up of a combination of testing and teacher assessment judgements and are used in all government-funded primary schools in England to assess the attainment of pupils against the programmes of study of the National Curriculum at the end of Key Stages 1 and 2 where all pupils are aged 6 to 7 and 10 to 11 respectively. Until 2008, assessments were also required at
1050-504: The statutory outcome. Statutory assessment takes place in reading , writing , mathematics and science . For each subject, teachers use the available evidence to reach one of a number of judgements, based on the national assessment framework. The judgements available for reading, writing and mathematics are as follows: In science, the only judgement available is 'Working at the Expected Standard', or alternatively an indication that
1085-461: The three key stages, with the national expectation that pupils would achieve Level 2 at the age of 7; Level 4 at the age of 11; and Level 5 or 6 by the age of 14. This model continued, with minor adjustments to reflect the changing content of the National Curriculum, up to 2004. From 2005, the role of the tests was downplayed at Key Stage 1, with tests being used only internally to support teacher assessment judgements. Further changes came in 2008 when
National Curriculum for England - Misplaced Pages Continue
1120-418: The volume of statutory content, particularly at lower key stages, as well as recommending changes to methods of assessment . Consequently, an updated National Curriculum was published in 1995 which saw a considerable reduction in the content of the curriculum and a simplification in line with Dearing's recommendations. When a new Labour government took office in 1997, its focus on English and Mathematics led to
1155-424: The wider school curriculum. The National Curriculum is set out for all year groups for pupils aged between 5 and 16. Year groups are divided into four Key Stages , each of which has a different compulsory list of taught subjects. These subjects are indicated in the following table: The Secretary of State for Education is required to set out a Programme of Study for each statutory curriculum subject which outlines
1190-547: Was intended to stimulate wide debate on the purpose of education in the UK: These are proper subjects for discussion and debate. And it should be a rational debate based on the facts... It is not my intention to become enmeshed in such problems as whether there should be a basic curriculum with universal standards - although I am inclined to think there should be... The goals of our education, from nursery school through to adult education, are clear enough. They are to equip children to
1225-439: Was published in 1999, for first teaching in September 2000. Further changes were announced by Ed Balls in 2007 for the statutory curriculum for Key Stages 3 and 4, which again focused on removing some content from the documentation, while also adding some additional element, with the intended aim of additional flexibility for schools. These changes were introduced in September 2008, and were swiftly followed by proposed changes to
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