The new national curriculum was published by the Department for Education yesterday, to be introduced in September 2014. The initial version published in February failed to make the grade, forcing the DfE to go back to the drawing board, but have they gone far enough?
The introduction of sock-darning to the design and technology curriculum was criticised by The Design and Technology Association, whilst history critics complained that the initial version did not support children’s learning. Whilst changes have been made, certain subject areas feel that little improvement has been realised.
Whilst maintained schools have to follow the national curriculum under The Education Act 2002, academies have more freedom under the Academies Act 2010 and simply have to offer a ‘broad and balanced’ curriculum. Bearing this in mind, we predict there will be a further wave of schools consulting on conversion if they feel that the new curriculum has failed to improve the programmes offered to their pupils.