CURRICULUM CURRICULUM
ARE WE USING OR ABUSING THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM? Is the National Curriculum misunderstood by school leaders? Shannen Doherty explains where she thinks some schools are going wrong and how to solve the curriculum conundrum. By By Shannen Shannen Doherty Doherty
As As II get get older, older, II get get grumpier grumpier and and far far less less tolerant tolerant of of incompetence. incompetence. II see see posts posts in in social social media media edu-groups edu-groups where where teachers teachers ask ask for for help help with with planning planning aa fun fun unit unit of of work work based based off off only only aa punny punny topic topic title title and and II despair. despair. Or Or they they say say “I’ve “I’ve been been thinking thinking about about teaching teaching aa topic topic on on chocolate chocolate this this term. term. Does Does anyone anyone have have any any planning planning for for it?” it?” It’s It’s not not their their fault. fault. They They think think this this isis normal. normal. They They don’t don’t know know that that their their leaders leaders are are failing failing them. them. While While II will will acknowledge acknowledge that that we we don’t don’t do do anything anything just just for for Ofsted, Ofsted, there there isis no no doubt doubt that that they they have have played played an an integral integral part part in in some some schools schools jumping jumping on on the the curriculum curriculum train train in in the the last last couple couple of of years. years. Ofsted’s Ofsted’s Education Education Inspection Inspection Framework Framework details details how how and and why why they they will will focus focus on on aa school’s school’s curriculum curriculum during during inspections. inspections. They They
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say say that that inspectors inspectors will will make make judgements judgements on on the the extent extent to to which which ‘the ‘the provider’s provider’s curriculum curriculum isis coherently coherently planned planned and and sequenced sequenced towards towards cumulatively cumulatively sufficient sufficient knowledge knowledge and and skills skills for for future future learning learning and and employment’. employment’. Subject Subject leaders leaders will will be be part part of of ‘deep ‘deep dives’, dives’, where where they they are are expected expected to to know know what what isis taught taught in in their their subject, subject, when when itit isis taught taught and and why why it’s it’s taught taught in in that that order. order. They They will will need need to to evidence evidence aa progression progression in in skills skills and and knowledge knowledge that that builds builds on on what what has has been been taught taught before. before. They They will will need need to to show show the the links links between between units units of of work work and and explain explain how how those those links links are are brought brought to to the the students’ students’ attention. attention. II think think the the emphasis emphasis on on curriculum curriculum has has been been needed needed for for years years and and II had had hoped hoped itit would would result result in in all all schools schools developing developing aa coherent coherent and and sequenced sequenced curriculum. curriculum. But, But, it’s it’s becoming becoming more more and and more more clear clear that that not not all all leaders leaders have have got got that that message. message.
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