DOCUMENT RESUME PS 021 169 ED 354 101 Your Child and the NatioLal Curriculum: A Parent's TITLE Guide to What Is Taught in Schools. Department of Education and Science, London INSTITUTION (England). PUB DATE 91 NOTE 17p. PUB TYPE Guides Non-Classroom Use (055) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Academic Achievement; Academic Standards; Basic Skills; *Curriculum Design; *Elementary School Curriculum; Elementary Secondary Education; Foreign Countries; Parent Materials; *Secondary School Curriculum *British National Curriculum; England; Wales IDENTIFIERS ABSTRACT Designed for parents with children in the British school system, this booklet describes the National Curriculum, which sets out what children should know, understand, and be able to do at each stage of their education from the ages of 5 to 16. Under the National Curriculum, children will be taught what they really need to know, and students and teachers will be given definite national targets to aim for in the most important subjects, thereby rLising standards. Teachers will check a child's progress against national tests at ages 7, 14, and 16. Schools will provide parents with an 11, annual report on their child's progress, showing how the child is progressing in the National Curriculum and other subjects. The curriculum will cover the content areas of technology, history, geography, modern foreign languages, art, music, and physical education, and the three core areas of English, mathematics, and science. (In Wales, Welsh is also part of the curriculum). There are brief explanations of the ways in which the National uarriculum focuses on the learning of basic skills during primary education and the ways in which the curriculum changes when students enter secondary education to allow students more choices in regard to the courses they take. Basic information about course offerings, tests, and awards at the primary and secondary levels is provided. The booklet concludes with a brief listing of other sources of information. (HOD) *********************************************************************** * * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. *********************************************************************** U 3. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) XThis document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it O Minor changes have been mad. to improve reproduction quality Points of view or opinions stated in this docu- ment dQ not necessarily represent official *V4:"''.40t74 OERI position or policy --Mig"11.111 "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY vcc..\-N BEST COPY AVAILABLE TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) " 2 Foreword by the Secretary of State for Education and Science Your child has a right to a good education, and you have a right to know both what is being taught in your child's school and how your child is progressing. That is why we now Inve a National Curriculum which sets out for the first time what children should know, understand and be able to do at each stage of their education from 5 to 16. It also provides for their progress to be regularly tested and reported to parents. This booklet gives you the basic facts about your child and the National Curriculum and tells you how to find out more. Rt Hon Kcnneth Clarke QC MP .3 4 .10 Contents The National Curriculum 2-3 4-5 What the National Curriculum covers 6-7 Primary education: concentrating on the basics Secondary education: more subjects, more choice 8-10 Reports for parents 11 More information 12-13 sq 4 pagr I The National Curriculum like National (:tirrictilum guarantees that all hildren w ill be taught '. hat the% reallv need to k1101%, 1111 h Check On (Filch- progress at eery stage. I his means that ott its a parent can find out what \ our child is doing at school and w 11. l he regular tests w ill tell you how well our child is doing. \Ott can see the National (:urriulton documents at am- t init. at the school. Fite regular reports 1. oil receive On tour progress w ill gie 011 ;111 (}1)1)(11111111iN to) talk to teachers about w hat happens in the classroom and hoc\ it relates to National Curriculum aims. -,111 Hie National (:urr;;-ttlunt is designed to raise standards IP. gi ing pupils and teachers definite national targets to aim for in the most important subjects. As children get older Fr t.' learn more. the targets d become steadily more difficult so that the\ are alw s motivated to do their best. leachers will check your child's prow( ss against the national H," 2 0) targets as part of their normal clay -to -day work. there will also he national tests at ages 7. 11, it ;111(1 lb. the results or t hese tests will he reported to you so that you can 1011ow lour child s progress and work with the teachers to help that progress along. l'his will help them set a pace which is right for your child. building on strengths and tackling N1Ca klICSSCS. lids combination of clear targets and national tests will help ensure that: teachers have the highest possible expectations of their pupils: standards are raised in schools right across the country: pupils can move From one school to another without disrupting their educat ion: you, as it parent, can hold your child's school to account for the progress your child is making and for the standards of the school generally. All state schools t011ow the National Curriculum and many independent schools are choosing to use it as well. pagr I it BEST COPY AVAILABLE What the National Curriculum covers I he National Curriculum is made up of ten subjects. At the centre are the -core- subjects of The Nat ional Curriculum English. mathematics ail(' science. Hu' (Aber subjects is only part of what the are technology, history, geography, a modern school offers your child. tll children also take lieign language, art. music and physical education. Religious Education unless their parents In Wales, Welsh is also part of the National specifically choose ( :urriculum. otherwise. And the school will want to bring out the best in your child not just in terms of academic shills but personal qualities as well. The school prospectus will tell you what the school's aims are and how it tries to achieve them through school activities. These folders tell you what is in the National Curriculum. You can see them at your child's school. The remaining music, art and PEwill National Curriculum subjects he introduced from Autumn 1992. page 4 BEST COPY AVAILABLE The National Curriculum is being introduced gradually. Most children under 14 arc follow ing parts of it already. It will be fully in place by the mid-1990s. 1'he examples show which subjects two typical children would study and when they would usually be tested: Billy's elder sister, "IAA, 4111 Bah win Atari at primary school start at Affoltdar whoa in nr Autumn 1992. 1993. ItUUmru Ile will start to learn all at the She will study all the National \'aleuual urneulum sub/refs (Mrrtculum subiects. including except a modern foreign a modern 10Te VI language. language. 1 hat is. he will stud\ Lnglish. the three core subjects Sally will lie tested to thew plus science and mathemat subjects at the end of the school technology. history. geography. tear 199115. u- /nit she is art. much and physical From age 1.1. Sally will be able to education. make some subject choices and .11 the end ol the school year will be tested at age IO 19971-1, when lie is 7. Billy's probably taking public progress in all these sublet-Is will examination% like G(:SE. )nu he accessed by his teacher, and will I ind more about l4+ there will he simple /ormal tests choice.% on page V. in English, maths and Acton e. Al the end of the school year 199718. when he is I1. Billy will again he assessed in all these subjet I.s. !'his limn, formal wnt lent tests are likely to playa biwer part 10 the assessment. page 5 II YEARS AGES 5 Primary education: concentrating on the basics In \' ill ear.; ralC III(' ENGLISH basic skills learning to read and rile and to Ilse children enjoy Young numbers. Under the National ( telling stories and playing imaginative 1111(1 %Vitt attic fWgill to XplOrr tic IOCC, IfT1111OlOgN, games. This helps them histor%, geography. art. music and learn to speak clearly, making li.;en carefully and to nine subjects altogether. So as %%ell as learning- basic want to read and write child viii skins broad.. baiatic.cd stories for themselves. By 7 they should he tirrictiltim that prepares the coin for sondar starting to read school. independently and beginning to write legibly. producing short 1 he national tests %% ill also locus on die basics. Ior pieces of writing on their own, using complete example. 7 year olds \\ ill he tested on wading. sentences and spelling rii Mg and arithmetic alld On pall Of their science simple words correctly. Isnowledge particular attetition being paid By Ii they will he able to read different kinds of to wading-. texts and make simple comparisons between .1.111S \VIII giVe'ou, as a burnt. (kir infi,rniat ion them. They will begin to match their style of about how well your child is masteritip, these basic writing to different audiences. They will he skills and whether any special help is needed. getting better at organising their work, punctuation, spelling and putting their ideas across clearly. pat.. b II YEARS AGES S II YEARS AGES SCIENCE MATHEMATICS Children's natural }bung children's first Children can develop their curiosity about the steps in mathematics are i 1 Is ot designing and world around them through counting, making through practical provides the starting rhymes and practical cl room aCtiVii ies as point for their activities like weighing part of their work in exploration of science. and measuring. A'ational Curriculum By 7 they will have By 7 most will be able to technology. started to look at the deal with numbers up to variety of living things, 100; u.orh out change; simple properties of recognise common 2.1) materials, the effects of and 3.D shapes; know pushes and pulls, and the the common units of relationship of the earth measurement. to the sun and moon. By 11 many pupils will By 11 most pupils will have developed an know about living things understanding of the adapting to their precision needed for environment, about the mathematical Iieur,,,ogy also has close formation of soil and the calculations and of how links u ith other subjects use of simple electrical important mathematics such as science, art & circuits. is in their own lives. design or history. These They will know their pupils have learnt about tables, and be able to Morse Code in history and make 3-D objects. find are finding out how it areas, perimeters and works. volumes. use graphs and diagrams. They will be working out calculations in their heads or on paper. and making a start with algebra. page 7 Etter ;ID nfor !LI L v.