Curriculum

Supported by:

Thursday 21st October 2010, One Great George Street - London, 09:00 - 15:45

Reforming the National Curriculum: Creating a Curriculum Fit for the 21st Century

Overview

Education forms an integral part of children’s lives. If they succeed at school, they are more likely to succeed in life. A flexible, well rounded and challenging curriculum is the nucleus of a first class education and underpins this success. But with a new government, what is the future of the National Curriculum?

The Conservatives, before they were elected, commissioned Sir Richard Sykes to undertake a review to consider the future of English qualifications and assessment in schools, with part of the review focussing on the National Curriculum. It recommended that there should be a government appointed, fully independent commission, to revise and review the curriculum once every five or ten years. Furthermore, it also recommended that when the National Curriculum is next reviewed it should be shortened and rebalanced to provide schools with greater ownership over how to teach the curriculum and the freedom to teach beyond the curriculum.

The government set out its plans for schools and the education system, In The Coalition: Our Programme for Government, published 20th May 2010 and with the Education and Children’s Bill, announced 25th May 2010. Their plans include allowing more flexibility in the curriculum and the way it is taught, improving the quality of vocational education and creating new technical academies to expand schools provision, to meet the demands of this modern age.

The primary curriculum will be organised around more traditional subjects like Maths, Science and History. While at a secondary level, state schools will be offered the International GCSE (IGCSE) and the Baccalaureate (BACC); The IGCSE, for 14-16 years, will provide a more rounded education, which can either be translated into immediate employment or progression onto A and AS level study. The Baccalaureate will give A and A2 level students the flexibility to study their chosen subjects whilst creating their own sixth-form programme. This transfer of responsibility will assist students to become more self-reliant – leading to increased use of initiative and motivation.

This will be achieved through creating new Swedish-style supply-side schools and freeing them from central bureaucratic control, in the hope that this will both raise standards and tailor the curriculum to the individual needs of the pupil; stretching the brightest and supporting the weakest.

Agenda

In this time of financial constraint, the key questions are how will the education system be funded and how will these ideas be implemented? This timely and important forum will provide delegates with a platform for informed debate and discussion regarding the future of this vital issue. It will provide attendees the opportunity to allay any uncertainties regarding the future of the National Curriculum under the new government

09:00	Registration and Coffee
09:40	Chair’s Welcome Address Alison Peacock, National Network Leader for the Cambridge Primary Review (CONFIRMED)
09:50	Reforming the Primary Curriculum Alison Peacock, National Network Leader for the Cambridge Primary Review (CONFIRMED)
10:10	Broadening Learning Horizons: The role of Museums and Libraries Why are museums and archives important in learning The Strategic Commissioning programme – Strengthening the role of Museums and Libraries in education The aims: Increasing the demand from schools for museum and archive education Augmenting the supply of museum and archive education activities Widening access for teachers to museum and archive education The Campaign! Make an Impact programme – Supporting Children and Young people in Museums and archives Science in the Your World – Developing science learning opportunities for schools and families Progress and next steps Penny Bull, Strategic Commissioning Programme Manager, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) (CONFIRMED)
10:30	Questions and Answers Session
10:45	Coffee Break and Networking
11:15	Embedding Parents in Children’s Learning The role of PTA’s – Bringing about understanding between parents the school at which their child/children are taught How important will the NCPTA be in the future regarding the new legislative changes to free schools and academies? Encouraging parents to discuss the curriculum and the syllabus which their children are taught Supporting teachers to promote parental involvement in their child’s learning outside the classroom David Butler OBE, Chief Executive, NCPTA (CONFIRMED)
11:35	Curriculum design and delivery for the 21st Century: aligning Knowledge, Skills and Understanding How has the IPC successfully helped teachers help children acquire: Knowledge Develop skills Deepen understanding in a dynamic, practical and exciting and globally relevent way Pam Mundy, Senior Associate, Fieldwork Education (CONFIRMED)
11:55	Empowering Teachers to Teach Beyond the Curriculum Where do teachers fit in to the new curricula landscape? Improving student learning through quality teaching Trusting teachers’ professional judgement to determine curriculum details, pupil assessment and teaching Helping teachers overcome the barriers to deliver an innovative curriculum The need to recognise the workforce as a major asset Martin Johnson, Deputy General Secretary, ATL (CONFIRMED)
12:15	Questions and Answers Session
12:35	Lunch and Networking
13:45	How Can We Further Develop a Balanced Curriculum Findings and recommendations of the Sykes Review Reducing the administrative burden on teachers What should a good, balanced curriculum consist of? Rebalancing Keystage 4 – Put focus back on traditional subjects post 16 The need for a stable, strong and challenging curriculum Sir Richard Sykes, Former Rector, Imperial College (CONFIRMED)
14:05	Equipping the Youth of Today with the Skills for Tomorrow Setting up new Technical Academies Offering state schools the International GCSE and the Baccalaureate to provide a more rounded education Developing the 14-19 curriculum to offer pupils a more vocational education Building motivation, initiative and confidence through increasing student ownership of the sixth-form programme The importance of work experience in years 10 and 11 Using IT to ensure students have the right skills for this digital age David Peck, Consultant Head Teacher, 14-19 Team, Birmingham City Council (CONFIRMED)
14:25	Coffee Break and Networking
14:50	The Role of the Third Sector in Vocational Education Stephen Jeffrey, Chief Executive, London Learning Consortium (CONFIRMED)
15:10	Ark Academies: The Academy Model Transforming the educational opportunities and aspirations of all its pupils Developing a challenging and innovative curriculum Achieving excellent GCSE results Focusing on traditional academic subjects What the new educational landscape means for us Amanda Spielman, Research and Development Director, ARK Schools (CONFIRMED)
15:30	Questions and Answers Session
15:45	Chairs Summary and Close

*programme subject to change without notice

Exhibitor

Fieldwork Education

Audience

The audience will comprise of local authorities, central government departments & bodies, schools, trade unions, private, legal & voluntary sectors including head teachers and principals, ICT providers, school governors, directors of education, children and youth services, leaning and skills councils, LEA officers, education welfare managers, extended school managers, full service school coordinators, parent teacher associations, elected members for education, school improvement advisors, Connexions, education consultants.