The curriculum: look how far we’ve come!

Hello Colleague

There has been a marked shift in discussion of and appreciation for the curriculum across all parts of the sector in the last few years.

There can be a tendency to forget just how far the sector has come.

The focus on the curriculum has been driven partly, but not solely, by the Education Inspection Framework. 

While there were many settings who were doing great work, thinking hard and delivering a strong curriculum for pupils, in some parts of the sector the discourse about the curriculum was muddled, for example:

• The privileging of skills over knowledge, and the mistaken belief that skills are transferable

• Thematic topics with no underlying coherent curriculum principles

• Focus on KS4 at the expense of KS3 in secondary, with the latter often framed as a mini KS4

• A lack of ambition, particularly for pupils with lower starting points

• An inability to talk about the distinctive aspects of individual subjects

• Scant inclusion of evidence informed pedagogy

• Lack of clarity about assessment

Since 2019, interest in and deep engagement with curriculum principles and consequent implementation and impact has been a key feature of school improvement priorities.

I believe it’s important to celebrate this. There can be a tendency to forget what gains are made when improvements are made gradually over time. These mount up and are worth noting!

I explore some of the gains made in this short recording because I think it will encourage us all to continue to reflect on and refine the curriculum we provide for young people.

Until the next update.

Mary