'More flexible' National Curriculum published
Thursday, 12 July 2007
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The Government was today publishing a new National Curriculum for secondary schools, designed to give teachers more freedom over their lessons.
Officials have insisted that classic writers such as Shakespeare and key dates in history will still be taught, despite the fact that fewer details will be set out overall in the new curriculum.
Teachers have complained that a rigid school curriculum demoralises staff, puts pupils off their studies and leads to discipline problems in the classroom.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority was tasked with rewriting the curriculum to introduce more flexibility for teachers to be creative in class.
Steve Sinnott, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "If teachers feel that they have far greater flexibility and creativity in teaching the curriculum then all young people will benefit."
Poet Laureate Andrew Motion is expected to join ministers and officials from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority for the launch of the curriculum at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.
Speaking earlier this year when draft plans were outlined, the QCA stressed classic topics of the English education system were not being scrapped.
A spokesman said: "Anne Boleyn will still be beheaded, the Pennines will remain the backbone of England and Romeo will still fall in love with Juliet."
Ministers have told the QCA, which was responsible for drawing up the new curriculum, that certain topics must not be touched, including a list of great writers and the World Wars.
Topics expected to be included in the curriculum range from personal finance to cookery and climate change.
