National Curriculum
The
National Curriculum was introduced into
England,
Wales and
Northern Ireland, as a nationwide curriculum for
primary and
secondary state schools following the
Education Reform Act 1988. Notwithstanding its name, it does not apply to
Independent Schools, who by definition are free to set their own curriculum, but it ensures that state schools of all Local Education Authorities have a common curriculum.
The Education Reform Act 1988 requires that all state students be taught a Basic Curriculum of
Religious Education and the National Curriculum.
The purpose of the National Curriculum was to ensure that certain basic material was covered by all pupils. In subsequent years the curriculum grew to fill the entire teaching time of most state schools.
There are two principal aims to the National Curriculum:
*
Aim 1: The school curriculum should aim to provide opportunities for all pupils to learn and to achieve. *
Aim 2: The school curriculum should aim to promote pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and prepare all pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life.Key Stages 1 and 2
At
Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7) and
Key Stage 2 (Ages 7-11) all pupils in
state education are required to study:
*
English (often taught as
Literacy)
*
Mathematics (often taught as
Numeracy)
*
Science*
ICT*
History*
Geography*
Art and Design*
Music*
Design Technology*
Physical Education*
Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)
The government proposes that by 2010, all pupils in Key Stage 2 children will have 'an entitlement' to learn a modern foreign language.
Also, many schools provide a
Sex Education programme. This must be an agreed policy of the individual school, and parents may withdraw their children from any such lessons.
Although schools are required to offer some form of
Religious Education, which varies depending on the status of the school, it does not form a part of the National Curriculum.
Key Stage 3
At
Key Stage 3 (ages 11-14) all students in
state education are required to study:
*
English*
Mathematics*
Science*
ICT*
Geography*
History*
Art and Design*
Design Technology*
Music*
Physical Education*
Citizenship*
Careers EducationA programme of
Sex Education should also be provided in accordance with local policy.
Key Stage 4
At
Key Stage 4 (ages 14-16) all students in
state education are required to study:
*
English*
Mathematics*
Science*
ICT*
Physical Education*
Citizenship*
Religious Education*
Sex Education*
Careers Educationand undertake a programme of
work-related learning.Schools must provide religious education for all pupils, although parents can choose to withdraw their children
*
Education in England*
Education in Northern Ireland*
Education in Wales*
Education in Scotland*
National Curriculum online official website*
Department for Education and Skills (England)*
Welsh Assembly Government (Wales)*
Department of Education (Northern Ireland)
