Curriculum Reform

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Thursday 22nd March 2012, Grand Connaught Rooms - London, 08:30 - 16:30

The National Curriculum Conference:
Creating a Curriculum Fit for the 21st Century

Overview

The National Curriculum is at the heart of England’s education system. In January 2011 the government announced the National Curriculum Review with the aim of modernising and invigorating the existing education system. With huge implications, the review is set to be one of biggest educational shake ups in recent times.

There is a definite need for change. The OECD’s PISA (Progress In Student Achievement) league tables show that in the last decade England has plummeted in the rankings. From 4th to 16th for science, 7th to 25th for literacy and 8th to 28th for maths. The gap between the educational opportunities for the rich and poor is also stark, with the latest DfE statistics showing only 30.9 per cent of pupils eligible for Free School Meals are achieving 5 or more A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent, compared to 58.5 per cent of non FSM students.

In response to these figures, the government conducted a national review, led by an expert panel and committee, in order to raise educational standards within England through the development of a slimmed down curriculum focusing on the basics: facts and content. The review aims to strip the education system of bureaucracy by encouraging the development of Swedish-style supply-side schools and allowing teachers the freedom to use their own expertise to enable all students to reach their full potential.

From a decline in compulsory subjects to issues surrounding funding, the review will have many implications for which preparation is vital.

Agenda

This national conference will provide a timely opportunity to explore in detail what the government’s future plans for the national curriculum will mean in practice. Bringing together top representatives from across the education system it will enable delegates to discuss how to best prepare for and implement the changes enabling the provision of a world class education system for all students.

08:30	Registration and Coffee
09:15	Chair’s Welcome Address David Birch, Associate Director, National Education Trust (CONFIRMED)
09:20	Morning Keynote: The Governments Vision For The New National Curriculum: Raising Standards For All Children Senior Representative, Department for Education (CONFIRMED)
09:40	World Class Curriculum Standards: Learning From Example Learning from other nations' system - policy construction not cherry-picking Managing the demarcations between autonomy and 'curriculum control' Stimulating and supporting genuine change rather than surface features Scheduling change in the National Curriculum Tim Oates, Chair, National Curriculum Review Expert Panel (CONFIRMED)
10:00	The Essential Place of Speaking and Listening in the 21st Century Curriculum The vital place of oracy in the 21st century curriculum The progression in oracy learning 5-19 Effective practice in the classroom Jean Gross CBE, Former Government Communication Champion for England (CONFIRMED)
10:20	Questions and Answers Session
10:40	Coffee Break and Networking
11:00	Implementation Of The New National Curriculum Leading and managing teams effectively to achieve successful curriculum change Creating efficient and positive conditions in preparation for change Restructuring leadership and embedding cultural change Understanding the significance of forming robust school leadership in developing and maintaining a strong and successful curriculum Providing teachers greater professional freedom over how they organise and teach the curriculum Amanda Timberg, Director - Leadership Development, Teach First and Robert Pett, Assistant Headteacher, Welling School (CONFIRMED)
11:20	Case Study: Providing Exceptional 21st Century Education Insights into the workings of a successful school and the techniques employed to achieve this Providing flexibility to tailor learning to the needs of individual students Invigorating the teaching of core subjects Extending extra-curricular activities to improve learning Encouraging aspiration in the next generation of students How to bridge the gap between primary and secondary education EAL and SEN provision in line with the new curriculum Patricia Davies, Head Teacher, Chingford Hall Primary School & named Head Teacher of the Year at the 2011 Pearson Teaching Awards (CONFIRMED)
11:40	A Broad and Balanced Curriculum: The View From Academies Giving schools greater freedom to tailor the curriculum to the needs of their pupils Reducing bureaucratic control in schools Understanding the impact of the new curriculum on your budget Meeting the national benchmark of excellence in schools Establishing effective and efficient leadership to guide your school through change Deciding whether to opt in or out of the new curriculum Gerry Walters, Director of Education, E-ACT (CONFIRMED)
12:00	Sponsor Slot: The School Food Trust Speaker to be confimed
12:20	Questions and Answers Session
12:40	Lunch and Networking
13:40	Afternoon Keynote: Maintaining Standards, Driving Innovation in the Curriculum: Developing Assessments Fit For The 21st Century Developments in the curriculum and how this impacts on the examination system The National Curriculum Review: informing the design and content of assessment at the end of Key Stage 2 Delivering assessments that promote attainment and progression and ensure schools are properly accountable to pupils, parents and the public for the achievement of every child Comparability of examination standards over time – maintaining public, employer and higher education confidence in examinations The importance of assessments in a modern education system Ensuring fair assessments for all students The effect of the curriculum review on further education and university admissions The impact of assessment at this stage: Introducing the IGCSE, ‘EBacc’ and Baccalaureate Dennis Opposs, Director of Standards, Ofqual (CONFIRMED)
14:00	Putting Innovation at the Heart of the Curriculum: The Role of Information Technology in the Classroom Invigorating teaching by using the latest technological innovations Matching resources to the new curriculum Responding to recent changes to the National Curriculum ICT transforming teaching and learning Long-term curriculum planning for socio-technological change How will the National Curriculum Review impact on ICT use within the classroom? How can ICT provisions and resources can be used to your advantage Raising education standards through the use of computer resources Stephen Breslin, Chief Executive, FutureLab (CONFIRMED)
14:20	Case Study: Hammersmith & Fulham: Delivering the Highest Educational Standards Providing exceptional education services for the 21st century Achieving the highest proportion of young people gaining the English Baccalaureate in London Providing 'good' and 'outstanding' schools for all children Ensuring no schools fall below the 'floor standard' Closing the attainment gap: raising education standards amongst low income families, minority ethnic groups and those with special educational needs Pooling resources to deliver the optimum education service Helen Binmore, Councillor for Avonmore and Brook Green and Cabinet Member for Children's Services, London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham (CONFIRMED)
14:40	Questions and Answers Session
14:55	Coffee Break and Networking
15:15	Sponsor Slot: DairyCo Roy Ballam, Education Manager, British Nutrition Foundation (CONFIRMED)
15:35	Enterprise in Education: Business and the New Curriculum Increasing and improving employer involvement in the curriculum Providing students with the skills to succeed Helping schools engage local enterprise champions to support school businesses and extend learning into the commercial environment The role and importance of apprenticeships and work based learning in developing the commercial knowledge of students Using the new curriculum to transform the way that employers and education engage Nick Chambers, Director, Education and Employers Taskforce (CONFIRMED)
15:55	Closing Keynote: Promoting Successful Education in All Schools Gwen Coates, National Adviser for Economics, Business and Enterprise, Ofsted (CONFIRMED)
16:15	Questions and Answers Session
16:30	Chair's Summary and Close

*programme subject to change without notice

Exhibitor

Supported by:

Audience

The audience will comprise local authorities, central government departments & bodies, schools, academia, 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, and education consultants.

Curriculum Reform

The National Curriculum Conference: Creating a Curriculum Fit for the 21st Century

The National Curriculum Conference:
Creating a Curriculum Fit for the 21st Century