National Curriculum review: 2011 -12
As you may or may not be aware on the 20th January 2011 the Secretary of State announced a new review of the National Curriculum in England. The review will consider the content and structure of the National Curriculum at both primary and secondary levels.
The Association for Physical Education [afPE] are the only subject association for Physical Education asked to give it`s views within this consultation on behalf of its members, and they are encouraging all members and regions to respond individually.
AfPE Response
AfPE will be sharing its response to the consultation via the AfPE website, from March 21st. This will provide individual members and regions sufficient time to undertake their own response before the deadline of April 14th.
Statements from the remit of the consultation can be seen below [in BOLD] to enable any members to consider the context of this consultation.
It is the Government's intention that the National Curriculum be slimmed down so that it properly reflects the body of essential knowledge which all children should learn It is the Government's intention that the National Curriculum be slimmed down so that it properly reflects the body of essential knowledge which all children should learn;
- to embody rigour and high standards and create coherence in what is taught in schools;
- to ensure that all children have the opportunity to acquire a core of essential knowledge in the key subject disciplines; and
- beyond that core, to allow teachers the freedom to use their professionalism and expertise in order to help all children realise their potential.
The first phase of the review will, therefore, consider the essential knowledge (e.g. facts, concepts, principles and fundamental operations) that children need to be taught in order to progress and develop their understanding in these subjects.
"Children need access to high-quality physical education. Physical education will, therefore, also remain a compulsory part of the National Curriculum at all four key stages" and the first phase of the review will advise ministers on a much simplified and less prescriptive Programme of Study, also for introduction in 2013.
"It is proposed that the revised curriculum for physical education will set out a clearer expectation that all pupils should play competitive sport, and will retain the expectation that all children learn to swim. The Government will also consider whether there would be merit in providing some form of guidance to schools about the allocation of time to outdoor physical activities; these considerations will be informed by the outcomes of the review."
