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Ask the union
NUT experts answer your questions on legal, professional, and health and safety matters.
Q I understand that the coalition Government does not intend to implement the new primary curriculum (based on the recommendations of Sir Jim Rose), which was due to be introduced in England from this September. My colleagues and I have put a lot of time and effort into preparing for the new curriculum, including buying new guidance and resources and ensuring we are able to offer a modern foreign language to all Key Stage 2 children. Has all of this been a waste? And what should we be teaching instead?
A Government ministers announced on 7 June 2010 that they did not intend to proceed with the new primary curriculum based on the recommendations of Sir Jim Rose. Instead the existing national curriculum requirements will remain in force for primary schools until at least 2011/2012.
The NUT is aware that many teachers have already undertaken considerable work in planning for the introduction of the ‘Rose’ curriculum. That work should not be wasted. The current national curriculum framework provides sufficient flexibility for schools to adapt the curriculum to their needs. Where schools have begun to implement elements of the ‘Rose’ curriculum, there is nothing in the current national curriculum that should prevent them from continuing, if they wish to do so.
Primary schools teaching Key Stages 1 and 2 will still, however, receive an extra non-contact day in 2010/11 to help them prepare adequately for the next school year and consider new approaches. The NUT advises that this time should be spent reviewing the school’s curriculum arrangements and how they might best meet the needs of pupils in the future. For example, you might examine the amount of time spent on test preparation in Year 6 and its impact on teaching and learning.
The legislation that would have made modern foreign languages at Key Stage 2 a statutory requirement in September 2010 was not passed by the previous Government due to lack of cross-party support, so this will not now take place for the foreseeable future.
Many teachers who have worked extremely hard to prepare for the introduction of primary modern foreign languages will be disappointed that this curriculum innovation has not been implemented. There is, however, sufficient flexibility within the current national curriculum for schools to continue to offer this provision if they wish.
The decision on whether or not to continue with any modern foreign languages provision could usefully be considered by schools during the additional Inset day. There can currently be no requirement on teachers, however, to teach modern foreign languages to primary pupils.
If you are concerned that your school is making unnecessary and inappropriate changes to the primary curriculum which are generating excessive workload, you should contact your NUT school representative in the first instance and ask them to call a meeting of members in school to discuss the issue. Further guidance on the implications of the discontinuation of the Rose curriculum is available
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