Post-Primary Review Group June 03 1

LEARNING FOR LIFE AND WORK

Towards a more relevant, enjoyable and motivating curriculum for young people in Northern Ireland

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 2

The debate & process so farAp-Oct 00 Consulted on framework

(aim, objectives, skills, values and areas)

June 2001 Proposals sent to DE & ETI(stat framework /non-stat content too radical)

Jan 2002 Revised proposals to Council (Primary OK – KS3 not radical enough)

Ap-Oct 02 Consultation on detail of primaryDiscussion paper on KS3 &4

Feb 03 Consultation outcomes & advice to on Primary and KS4 to DE

Aug 03 Detailed consultation on KS3

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 3

Structure

1 Quick overview of primary

2 Quick overview of Key Stage 4

3 Focus on Key Stage 3 and issues for forthcoming consultation Aug-Nov 03

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 4

Primary

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 5

Foundation Stage Outcomes of Consultation

• Foundation Stage 90+%

• Pre-school and Years 1 and 2 86%

• Year 2 as a transition year 82%

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 6

Key Stage 1 & 2 Outcomes

• Curriculum in Areas 90% • Content of Areas 90+%• Areas as suggested 70%• PE with Personal Development 67%• Emphasis on skills 94%• Flexible entitlement 92%• Include Languages in Primary 82%• Pupil Profile 90%

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 7

Implementation

• Collaboratively planned INSET programme• Building on

- Enriched Curriculum Pilot

- Personal Development pilot

- Assessment for Learning Pilot• Strategic approach to Languages in PS• Support in the form of Sample Teaching

Plans (Lesson Plans etc to follow)

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 8

Big issue for Primary Curriculum and Assessment is the Transfer Test!

• Promotes rote learning rather than creative investigation

• Emphasises knowledge acquisition as opposed to skills development and formative Assessment for |Learning

• Promotes single subjects, eg. Science as opposed to The World Around Us

• NFER research ‘NIC and Transfer Test mutually incompatible’.

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 9

KEY STAGE 4

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 10

Key Stage 4: Issue of Flexibility

• Flexibility to respond to the PP Review• Flexibility to introduce more

vocational/work-related courses • Restoring decision-making to schools• Current requirements inflexible • Certain requirements particularly unpopular

e.g. Languages and Science • DE dis-application to allow flexibility

(tends to be confined to less able)

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 11

Proposed core at KS4 Consultation Outcomes

Skills, PSHE, citizenship, employability 53%• Application of number 81.1%• Communication 81.5%• ICT 86.4%• Working with others 83.5%• Self management 83.6%• Problem-solving 83.3%• Local and Global Citizenship 71.9%• Personal, Social and Health Education 77.2%• Employability 81.7%

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 12

KS4 Consultation Outcomes

Different types of qualifications for all 95%

Not encouraged to complete at 17 90%

Encourage some to take less exams 86%

Languages starting in Primary 96%

Healthy exercise part of the PSHE 79%

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 13

Key Stage 4 Recommendations

• New flexible core from September 2004?• Encourage schools to

- include vocational/work-related courses

- expand the range of practical experiences Support for pilot initiatives in Citizenship, Employability and PSHE

• Guidance on healthy exercise

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 14

Key Stage 3

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 15

Proposed Timescale

• Council meeting 17 June

• Consultation end Aug to end Nov 03• Opportunity for DETAILED FEEDBACK

• Advice December 03

• Piloting and support from 04

• Phased implementation from 05

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 16

KS 3- The Issues

• Consensus about need for PSHE, Citizenship and Employability

• Curriculum already crowded 12 subjects+ 3 unacceptable

• Cohort Study findings - disjointed subject silos - few connections -

no understanding of skills - ‘compliance without engagement’ (NFER)

- Evidence of stalling and turn off

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 17

KS 3: 2002 Proposals

• Areas as opposed to subjects• Focus on relevance, skills and connections • Statements of entitlement rather than detailed

programmes of study; Learning outcomes if desired;

• Flexibility to respond to the PP Review

- a two year KS 3 for most, if not all; - discretion to develop different models (Year 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12).

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 18

2002 Consultation Outcomes

• Areas not subjects 45% (55% against) • Areas proposed 54%• Statements of entitlement 71%• Desirable outcomes 83%• Two year Key Stage 3 23% (77% against)• Additional flexibility 62%• Phased Implementation 95%• Piloting 98%

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 19

Unresolved IssuesWhat do we do about…..

1 The overcrowded curriculum?

2 The disjoined curriculum structure ?

3 The lack of links/coherence?

4 The profile of skills in the 21st C?

5 The need for flexibility?

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 20

Issues we can’t ignore

Perceived lack of relevance to life and work

‘Compliance without engagement’

Technology Age - Learning how to learn

Information Age - creativity & enterprise

Global Age - flexibility & adaptability

Workplace - interpersonal capabilities

Neuroscience - connections & meaning

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 21

Key Stage 3Which way now?

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 22

Proposals in Areas ( 9 Areas with contributory subject strands)

1: Learning for Life and Work (Citizenship, Employability, Personal Dev’mt

2: The Arts3: English (including Drama & Media Ed)

4: Environment & Society5: Languages6: Maths (including Financial Capability)7: PE8: Science and Technology9: RE (separately specified by Churches & DE)

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 23

developing young people’s potential; help them make informed & responsible choices & decisions as:

Curriculum Framework

an individual a contributor to society

a contributor to the economy and the environment

Consultation: 91%

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 24

individual

personal understanding

mutual understanding

healthy lifestyle

moral character

spiritual awareness

contributor to society

citizenship

cultural understanding

media awareness

ethical awareness

contributor to economy and environment

employability

economic awareness

sustainable development

environmental responsibility

Key Themes

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 25

Skills Framework

• PERSONAL SKILLS

•Self Management/ Improving own Learning

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

•Teamwork /Working with Others

CRITICAL & CREATIVE THINKING SKILLS

Information Management

Problem-solving

Creativity

Communication

ICT

Application of Number

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 26

Structure of Proposals

Each strand set out on an A4 landscape page

under Knowledge Understanding & Skills and

how these relate to :

- The Curriculum Objectives

- The Key Elements

- Real Life Contexts

- Skills-based Learning Outcomes

Minimum entitlement in BOLD

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 27

Future Possibilities

1: Teach curriculum in themes2 Teach subjects in Areas3: Teach Areas in modular carousels4: Mix and match – subjects, Areas,

modules, themes5 Continue to teach in subjectsDiscussion paper on curriculum structure and

time-tabling and case-studies of approaches from here & England

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 28

Key Stage 3 Implementation

• Longer-term agenda

- based on School Self Evaluation - School Development Planning and

- Outcomes of Post-primary Review

• Invite schools to pilot

• Evaluate outcomes

• Disseminate outcomes of pilots

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 29

What’s in it for teachers and pupils?

- more flexibility, freedom, choice

- more emphasis on skills

- More emphasis relevance to Individual, Society, Economy, Environment

- More emphasis on application to real life• How will I use this in the future?

- More linkages (within and beyond Areas)• How does it all connect up?

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 30

What reaction do we expect and what can we do about it?

- Anxiety- Concern- Subject defensiveness- Reassurance- Opportunity- Challenge - Enjoyment

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 31

What do we need from you?(a personal view!)

- Shared vision –alignment of CR with PPR

- Leadership

- Encouragement to embrace change

- Approval to take risks and be innovative

- Strategic support for schools that wish to trail and pilot

- Research, evaluation, dissemination

Post-Primary Review Group June 03 32

A fine balancing act!