A Letter from Mick Waters, Director of Curriculum, QCA
Colleagues,
This is a key moment in the development of primary education. We have before us a chance that must be seized. A chance to make a real difference to the education of the nation’s children. A chance to introduce a new primary school curriculum that we can treasure and of which we can all be proud.
The remit offered by the Secretary of State for the review of the primary curriculum is wide-ranging. As lead for the review, Jim Rose has asked QCA to consider how we might develop a curriculum that is “concerned with the development of the whole child as well as their level of attainment”, a curriculum that promotes creativity and commitment to lifelong learning. We have been asked to look at extending Foundation Stage approaches into the primary curriculum, and to consider whether all subjects should start in Year 1. At QCA we will be exploring how personal development might feature more centrally within the primary curriculum, and how we might develop a structure of personal skills. This is going to be a radical review, and we need to get it right.
To do so we need your help. As a co-development school you will already be thinking about innovation in the curriculum. You will have been considering new developments and looking closely at what will work and what will not. So we ask you to share your experiences and expertise with us.
Over the coming weeks, I shall be writing a series of articles that will appear on the QCA website. Each article will look at a different aspect of the review. There will then be a space on the website for people to contribute to the discussion, answer questions and even take part in casting votes.
To ensure that all co-development schools get the best chance to participate in the review, I shall email the articles and the website links to you every time one is published. I would urge you to read the articles and to visit the website to make your contribution. It will not be too time-consuming, and will make a significant contribution to the development of a new curriculum. The first article is available to download below.
You don’t have to restrict yourself to one reply per school. Our software will list contributions by who made them: heads, teachers, teaching assistants, parents, governors, pupils. So please encourage others to contribute. Discuss the articles with governors, parents and pupils and encourage them to contribute.
When you became a co-development school, you did so to make a difference. Together, we now have the rare and wonderful opportunity to make a difference for the nation by developing a modern and world class curriculum that will truly inspire and challenge all learners and prepare them for the future.
Look out for the emails – and be ready to make your contribution!
Thanks for your help.
Mick Waters
Further Information
Download ‘A Remit for Change’ PDF
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