Hackney Governors Training The Primary Curriculum 24-January-16 Yasmin Chaudhry Leadership and Management Adviser Introduction The curriculum has changed Levels have been abolished National standardised assessments have changed National tests have changed Teacher assessment materials have changed Key documents: DfE website itself Sample papers/test frameworks Interim teacher assessment frameworks Assessment & Reporting Arrangements (ARA) 1
Governors Handbook 3.1 The curriculum Responsibility for the school curriculum in state schools is shared between the headteacher, the governing body and (to a limited extent) LAs. The law says that the curriculum for a maintained school (or maintained nursery school) should be balanced and broadly based, and should: promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society; and prepare pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life. Governors Handbook 3.1 The national curriculum Governing bodies in maintained schools should reassure themselves that enough teaching time is provided for pupils to cover the national curriculum and other statutory requirements 2
Government s Vision But what really matters is that this is a new approach to education, one that gives head teachers and schools far greater freedom. How they implement the national curriculum isdown to them. There will be no statutory document telling teachers how to do their job. No national strategies telling teachers everything that they have to do. No national roll-out. This is a huge cultural shift. Elizabeth Truss, Parliamentary under - Secretary of State Education and Childcare New Curriculum The national curriculum forms one part of the school curriculum. Mathew Arnold: The national curriculum is just one element 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. Opportunity for schools to shape curriculum and stay creative. 3
Outstanding teaching and learning National Curriculum School Curriculum New Curriculum Launched September 2014 - except Y2 and Y6 Less prescription - what but not the how shorter programmes of study for foundation subjects More emphasis on knowledge rather than skills across the curriculum Fuller content for KS1 KS2 English & Maths The bar has been raised May 2015: final KS2 tests based on previous curriculum May 2016: first new KS2 tests & EYFS baseline assessment is decided after consultation. 4
Why the Government wanted to change the National Curriculum? First and foremost to raise standards UK Falling behind other countries To be slimmed down Research has shown the need to cover fewer things in greater depth. Previous curriculum very content heavy research has shown the need to return to the fundamental content What subjects make up the New Curriculum? Languages Schools must make provision for SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and cultural) and Collective Worship. 5
What do we mean by the core subjects? Spoken language Writing Reading Spelling, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation Number and place value Addition subtraction, multiplication and division. Fractions Measurement Geometry Statistics. (KS1): working scientifically, plants, animals, Living things and their habitats, including humans, materials and seasonal changes. (KS2): working scientifically, plants, animals (including humans), rocks, light, forces and magnets, states of matter, electricity, properties and changes of materials, Earth and Space, forces, evolution and inheritance (Y6) Some of the main changes - English Stronger emphasis on vocabulary development, grammar, punctuation and spelling (for example, the use of commas and apostrophes will be taught in KS1). Emphasis on reading more widely, for pleasure. Handwriting is expected to be fluent, legible and speedy. Spoken English has a greater emphasis, with children to be taught debating, recitation and presenting skills. Strengthen the Teaching of phonics - more pupils should read fluently. Word lists are included for Key Stage 2. 6
Some of the main changes - Maths It goes beyond the previous curriculum. Need to keep key maths fundamentals, such as times tables and number facts, "on the boil. Emphasis on calculating and problem solving with fractions and decimals and less on data handling (now called statistics). Calculators cannot be used in the KS2 SAT. There is an increased emphasis on mental fluency and the use of efficient written methods in the four mathematical operations. Some of the main changes - Science Scientific enquiry is now called Working Scientifically and consists of a greater range of investigative activities. More on identifying and naming living things especially in KS1. Seasonal changes including day length in Y1. New topics digestive system and evolution and inheritance (KS2). New science tests for KS2. 7
Is curriculum information for each year group published on your website? Questions What do I know about the current curriculum at the school where I am governor? How well does the curriculum reflect the ethos of the school? What influence have governors had on the curriculum? How can I find out more about the current curriculum at the school where I am governor? 8
Ofsted Questions for governors: How is the curriculum structured? How is the curriculum monitored? How does the curriculum promote British values? How have the governors influenced the curriculum? 9
Assessment National Curriculum levels removed and not replaced. Schools determine their own approach to formative assessment and progress tracking End of KS2 SATS to be more demanding with an expectation that 85% pupils achieve and are considered secondary ready. 85% will be a floor standard 19 Why has the government changed the assessment system? Based on in-depth international research, which has shown: Many schools have under-developed formative assessment systems. Assessment dominating curriculum thinking teaching to the test. Confusion for parents about what levels actually mean. Schools putting assessment ahead of the curriculum This needs to be the other way around. 10
Levels are no more! Level 6 Level 5a Level 5b Level 5c Level 4a Level 4b Level 4c Level 3a Level 3b Level 3c Level 2a Level 2b Pupils are assessed against a key set of expectations per Year Group. They learn in greater depth and apply their learning to a wide variety of situations. They are not accelerated through levels, instead they develop a deeper understanding and an ability to apply this understanding across other subjects and in a variety of situations. No one left behind. New system No limits to the curriculum for children (unless provision is personalised). At the beginning of each year they face the challenge of a new set of End of Year Expectations New Assessment System KS1 Externally set & Internally marked GPS Test Reading Test Maths Test Externally set Internally marked Speaking & Listening Writing Reading Maths Science Greater Depth Greater Depth Greater Depth Working at the Standard Standard Standard Teacher Assessments National Standard Working towards National Standard Working towards National Standard Working towards Below national Below national Below national standard standard standard Performance Descriptors 11
New Assessment System KS2 Externally set & marked GPS Test Reading Test Maths Test 100 = Standard Scaled Score Scaled Score Scaled Score Teacher Assessments Writing Reading Maths Science Greater Depth Working at the Working at the Working at the Standard Above National Standard National Standard Working towards Performance Descriptors Below national standard Staying the Same Post 2016 Statutory duty to report annually to parents End of Y6 writing to be teacher assessed End of KS2 SATS ( no L6 tests) National sampling of science Phonics screening check Use of statutory data Testing at the end of KS1 24 12
Assessment: 8 Years of Change 13