CONTRIBUTORS
The importance of effective curriculum planning
In his regular column for Education Today this month, GRAHAM COOPER, head of education at Capita SIMS, runs the rule over Ofsted’s latest revisions to its inspection framework.
Looking ahead to the new school year, the latest revisions to the Ofsted inspection framework make it clear that effective curriculum planning is going to be of greater significance in judgements than ever before. This shift towards focusing on the substance of education and away from
the performance data and metrics does initially seem like a positive one from the point of view of school leaders and teachers – after all, trying to deliver a poorly designed curriculum will most likely lead to sub-standard learning. However, if this emphasis results in schools creating rigid, inflexible
curriculum plans that cannot be adapted as pupils themselves develop, then there’s a significant risk of being unable to create lessons that work for the majority of the class. It’s an old cliché, but they do tend to exist for a reason: evolution, not
revolution. By taking a radical approach to the changes in judgement, there’s a clear
risk of weak curriculum design taking the blame for just about everything that affects outcomes. In addition, while an increased focus on designing coherent, well-sequenced lesson progressions could be part of the solution in many schools, it is very unlikely to be the silver bullet for everyone. Bringing a well-structured and expertly-created curriculum to fruition is so
much more complicated than simply delivering it. This shines a light on the complex network of human relationships that exists in all schools and plays a key part in the success of teachers and pupils alike. Considering the needs and starting points of 30 different individuals, looking to stretch and challenge them all just enough, while also managing the requirements passed down from senior leaders and ensuring that pupils achieve their milestones, all makes for an incredibly complicated environment in which to operate. This could well be the point at which information intersects with intuition,
where teachers could use the data that is collected in schools to reinforce their observations and make decisions over interventions and curriculum amendments accordingly. For instance, you might have three pupils who all score the same eventual result in an exam, which could lead to them all being categorised as either passing or failing, but taking a closer look at their assessment, attendance and behaviour data throughout the year could start to highlight some of the contributing factors to their overall result. That’s where the real skill of teachers come to the fore – rarely is it a black
and white scenario where all considerations are binary. Instead, as with all pupils and people generally, every decision and every action exist upon a scale, making it almost impossible to stick too rigidly to even the best laid plans. Providing pupils with the best possible curriculum platform for them to
succeed is incredibly complicated – trying to distil that process down and effectively devise a curriculum plan drawn up in isolation is a dangerous game.
18
www.education-today.co.uk
It risks making this crucial element of education delivery an effective scapegoat for wider issues and factors impacting learning.
The power of education!
This month regular contributor KIRSTY BERTENSHAWtakes a step back from the classroom and looks at the power of education to change lives.
As a new school year begins, it is worth reminding ourselves of the potential of the education we provide. As teachers, we sometimes forget the huge impact education can have nationally as well as student by student. It is already known that a good education is important to the career prospects of young people, but education can affect much more than the career path taken and salary earned by an individual. I firmly believe that the education system can not only result in a better future for the students but also for the country, making education the most important factor for our leaders to consider. Firstly, the difficult subject to address is crime. Education and crime
have been linked in many studies, including those recording low average reading ages of prisoners. Of course, it would not be fair or correct to connect all crimes to the quality of education received, consider all crimes to be the same or judge individuals for their circumstances. That is not our job. However, our job IS to provide an education. Higher levels of education have been shown to reduce crime rates either by reducing the amount of free time available to students, or to set an example and allow them the choice to make the right decisions in life. A recent news article linked education with the lifespan of
individuals in the USA. Funding for the NHS is always a contentious issue, yet health care is a necessity and a basic human right. Education can teach students how to keep their bodies healthy, and increasingly also their minds as schools become more aware of mental health issues. If schools can encourage healthy lifestyles at a young age, then it sets the pattern for living for students throughout their lives. The reduction in smoking rates is a testament to how education can affect lifestyle choices. Healthy school meals can form positive memories leading to
healthy choices later. A good and varied physical education programme inside and outside the curriculum encourages physical fitness. Indeed, more schools have gyms now than in previous years. It is fantastic to see some schools open the gym to teachers as well as students, modelling healthy habits. Good education leads to a skilled workforce. A skilled workforce is
more productive, develops new technologies, finds innovative uses for known technology, and contributes to economic growth. This includes vocational skills and academic skills. The UK needs more skilled professionals in the STEM sector. And its not just skilled workers who affect the economy. In general, better education and prospects results in less crime, less
stress on the criminal justice system and less money required from the state. A healthier population would live longer without the need for medical interventions. This would save money currently spent on treating preventable conditions such as type 2 diabetes, lifestyle- related obesity and heart disease. Improved education, both academic and vocational, increases the chances of students gaining employment in a sector they choose. Skilled, educated individuals can develop businesses that grow, paying taxes to the state and providing work opportunities for others. Next time you consider yourself just a teacher, remember the power of education!
Kirsty is the founder of STEMtastic, an education consultancy with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths
www.stemtastic.co.uk
September 2019
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
