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KEY STAGE 3
Shaking up KS3
Teachers are busy getting to grips with the key stage 3
English tests at the appropriate level, when they go live Compared to the changes last time the process
in 2010. Theoretically these could be sat during years should be less onerous and may even be an enjoyable
curriculum shake-up. We asked two experts to outline
9, 10 or 11. Although functional English teaching is one.
likely to relate to day-to-day teaching, extra teaching Overall, the key stage 3 curriculum changes seem
emphasis on the Functional Skills Standards could be to have provided a more up-to-date framework offering
what it has meant for English and science
of benefit to many pupils. more relevance for the pupil to the world today.
English departments will have inevitably encountered Less prescriptive and more pragmatic, the curriculum
an increase in workload with the new curriculum; first recognises the skills of the teacher and the needs and
EY STAGE 3 education has just into resources supporting the key stage 3 framework in understanding the changes, and then getting equipped interests of the pupils. SecEd
K
experienced the biggest shake-up with individual assessment tasks and “test yourself” with the right materials for the course. However, time
in its curriculum in two decades, sheets to help students identify their own areas of spent on delivering training sessions that show the • Lionel Bolton is senior English publisher for
bringing it into a more modern-day strength and weakness. department how embrace the creativity and flexibility Pearson Education and ex-head of English at a
context and widening it to embrace With the demise of SATs, science teachers are using within the new curriculum is time well spent. secondary school.
activities that add to children’s a variety of assessment methods as an interim measure.
learning experience. Some use past SATs questions that can be set and
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) marked by a computer-based system; some are taking
guidance states that pupils should be taught about up the APP (Assessing Pupils’ Progress) initiative and
identity and cultural diversity, sustainable development getting pupils to produce practical pieces of work such
Headteacher's
and a series of other themes. as podcasts or videos as evidence of their work that
Advocating a less prescriptive curriculum, teachers can grade.
the government says that the new framework Every time a new course is introduced it naturally
removes duplication of content between subjects, causes an increase in a teacher’s workload so in this
PA of the Year
handing schools the flexibility to plan teaching that respect the changes in science are no different than any
emphasises the links between different areas of other phase in teaching.
knowledge.
How is this working in practice though? Subject • Dr Berry Billingsley is an author for Heinemann’s Go Awards 2009
experts and ex-teachers Dr Berry Billingsley and Lionel Science! series and a lecturer in science education at
Bolton reflect upon how the changes in science and the Institute of Education at the University of Reading.
English have affected the teaching of the key stage 3
An opportunity to recognise and celebrate the people
curriculum. English
who are at the heart of a successful school
Science
Lionel Bolton
Dr Berry Billingsley
High on the agenda for English is pupil progression
One of the most vital jobs performed in
– the new curriculum places more emphasis on the
any secondary school is that of the PA to
In science, there has been a marked shift in focus pupils being able to read and write non-fictional
the headteacher. The PA is invariably the
towards a more inspirational and compelling framework pieces, and learning the functional skills of information
confidante of the head and a key link with the
and this is now reflected in the range of new resources – persuasion, instruction etc.
staffroom, the governors, parents and pupils. Good PAs are
available in the subject. There has also been an increased focus on multi-
In fact, I was shocked to catch a couple of pupils in modal texts so pupils can gain a better understanding
an invaluable asset and few schools can operate efficiently or
the library the other day pouring over a new key stage of the different ways of communicating information
effectively without them.
3 science textbook during their free reading time – through different media – webpages, audio, books,
something that was rare in the past. Hopefully it means newspapers etc.
In acknowledgement of this essential and important role,
that science is becoming more engaging and cooler! The change in curriculum is significant, with the
SecEd is proud to organise for the fourth year running, in
Irrespective of the curriculum change, for me it new Programme of Study having interesting content
association with the DCSF International School Award,
always comes back to good teaching in science. If you and greater breadth within it. There is more of an which is managed by the British Council, the SecEd
have an engaging teacher then you are much more emphasis on English today, with recommendations Headteacher's PA of the Year Awards 2009, which will
likely to enjoy the subject, and this is particularly so in of contemporary authors such as Philip Pullman and
celebrate the achievements and success of the modern
secondary education. Bill Bryson. Good teachers have been covering these
headteacher's PA.
Good teachers know how to draw their pupils to the things anyway, but it is great to see that it has now been
subject and want time and space within each lesson to do formalised into the national curriculum.
Only personal assistants to the headteacher of a
this. It is really up to the teachers to find ways to make the The old framework was too prescriptive, detailed
secondary school, state or independent, may be
most of the opportunity given by the new curriculum. and unwieldy to implement. The new one is much more
The new framework is geared to the “doing” of pragmatic with suggested, but not mandatory, pathways
entered. Nominations will only be accepted by the
science and learning about science, as opposed to the through key stages 3 and 4. In a nutshell, it recognises
head or deputy head. To enter, a statement
old style of learning page after page of scientific laws teacher expertise more, so I think the majority of
of not more than 700 words must be
and concepts. English teachers are welcoming the change.
written, explaining why the
Lessons spent copying facts from boards have To help teachers deliver the curriculum, publishers
nominated PA deserves
therefore been replaced by a journey of discovery, of have created new course material which they feel
the award.
testing alternative theories and seeing where pupils can is compelling and inspirational, producing integrated
go when they have a chance to think creatively. By schemes of books and software offering a thematic
Nominations should be
focusing on how science works and the nature of science, approach to English.
sent to Pete Henshaw by
pupils discover that science is a growing, living, changing With the government’s announcement about the
subject, and an exciting option as a career choice. cancellation of year 9 SATs, the emphasis on assessing
no later than October 1, 2009.
Central to the new approach has been a drive to strip progress will be at the forefront of English teaching
For information and guidance for
down prescribed subject content and this is particularly plans for the coming year. Teachers are not only having
nominators is also available.
so in science where the programme for study has been to look at how this affects their planning for year 9, but
Email pete.h@markallengroup.com,
slashed from 18 pages to less than five. also how it affects years 7 and 8.
write to SecEd, MA Education, St. Jude's
Due to the fact that most pupils tend to fall behind Many of the new key stage 3 resources have APP
Church, Dulwich Road, London, SE24 0PB
at key stage 3, more objective, accurate and reliable embedded in them and this is proving useful.
or visit www.sec-ed.co.uk
methods of formative assessment have been designed There will be an opportunity to use functional
pa 2009.indd 1 23/3/09 15:49:07
SecEd • July 9 2009 15
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