The National Curriculum in England

The National Curriculum in England

The National Curriculum in England (NCE) was published in September 2013 by the Department of Education and became effective in September 2014. The statutory national curriculum must be followed by all local authority maintained primary schools in England. Each school must incorporate the national curriculum as part of its own curriculum. This paper examines the curriculum for key stages 1 and 2.

The aim of the curriculum for key stages 1 and 2 is well spelt out in the document. Pupils should acquire the knowledge necessary to make them become educated citizens. The pupil should be able to appreciate human creativity and achievement. The curriculum aims to equip pupils with knowledge, understanding and skills in preparation for the overall school curriculum. (Department of Education, NCE 6)

The curriculum has certain themes that are common across stage 1 and 2. In all stages, spiritual, moral, cultural and physical development of the child must be emphasized. There should be collective worship. Religious Education must be taught across all stages (Department of Education, NCE 5).

Some other themes are common across subjects. These themes are specific topics in individual disciplines which are not tied to a particular subject but must be taught in every other relevant subject. These disciplines include Numeracy and mathematics, language and literacy, reading and writing and vocabulary (Department of Education, NCE 9-11).

The department of education stipulates how the assessment is to be carried out. The new NCE allows Schools to develop their own assessment system to check student progress and report the same to parents. At the national level and effective from the summer of 2016, pupils would sit for tests based on the new curriculum in English, Mathematics and Science (Department of Education, National Curriculum and Assessment from September 2014 2-4).