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Technology key in primary review Technology key in primary review
(about 4 hours later)
A review of England's primary school curriculum by former schools inspector Sir Jim Rose is expected to emphasise the importance of new technologies.A review of England's primary school curriculum by former schools inspector Sir Jim Rose is expected to emphasise the importance of new technologies.
Sir Jim is likely to recommend the internet becomes embedded in the curriculum, with pupils using websites like Google Earth and Wikipedia.Sir Jim is likely to recommend the internet becomes embedded in the curriculum, with pupils using websites like Google Earth and Wikipedia.
Primary teachers are also expected to be given extra training to help them stay ahead of computer-savvy pupils. His report is also expected to emphasise speaking and listening skills in young children.
The review was commissioned by Schools Secretary Ed Balls in January 2008.The review was commissioned by Schools Secretary Ed Balls in January 2008.
In an interim report published last December, Sir Jim said children today were computer literate from a young age and should be taught to use podcasts and computer presentations in primary school.In an interim report published last December, Sir Jim said children today were computer literate from a young age and should be taught to use podcasts and computer presentations in primary school.
He will say that primary teachers should be given extra training to stay ahead of computer-savvy pupils.
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The government's technology agency, Becta, is believed to have warned Sir Jim that if information communications technology (ICT) was not built into the curriculum, there was a risk that a "digital underclass" would emerge.The government's technology agency, Becta, is believed to have warned Sir Jim that if information communications technology (ICT) was not built into the curriculum, there was a risk that a "digital underclass" would emerge.
Sir Jim's interim report also said the primary timetable should be more flexible and less "overloaded".Sir Jim's interim report also said the primary timetable should be more flexible and less "overloaded".
SUGGESTED AREAS OF LEARNING Understanding English, communication and languagesMathematical understandingScientific and technological understandingHuman, social and environmental understandingUnderstanding physical health and well-beingUnderstanding the arts and design Children's reading and writing depended on what they could say, Sir Jim told Radio 4's Today programme.
He suggested there should be six broader "areas of learning", rather than up to 14 individual subjects such as history, geography and science. "If children can't say it, they can't write it. The interdependency is very clear," he said.
The interim report said summer-born children should start primary school in the September after their fourth birthday, but some children should be able to begin school part-time if their parents wished. In his interim report he suggested there should be six broader "areas of learning", rather than up to 14 individual subjects such as history, geography and science.
He said arts subjects, as well as history and geography, would still be given weight.
"There's no doubt we've let the curriculum get too fat," he said.
"We need to slim it down and give teachers time more flexibility and opportunity to think creatively."
Strategies
The final Rose review is being published as a report by an educational think tank concludes government strategies to improve literacy and numeracy in primary schools have failed.The final Rose review is being published as a report by an educational think tank concludes government strategies to improve literacy and numeracy in primary schools have failed.
The Policy Exchange said standards were rising faster before ministers introduced national strategies and their apparent success was a "cruel illusion".The Policy Exchange said standards were rising faster before ministers introduced national strategies and their apparent success was a "cruel illusion".
SUGGESTED AREAS OF LEARNING Understanding English, communication and languagesMathematical understandingScientific and technological understandingHuman, social and environmental understandingUnderstanding physical health and well-beingUnderstanding the arts and design
The government introduced its first primary literacy strategy in 1998 and a primary numeracy strategy in 1999, at a cost of £2bn, the report found.The government introduced its first primary literacy strategy in 1998 and a primary numeracy strategy in 1999, at a cost of £2bn, the report found.
It said most of the improvements in standards came after national curriculum tests (known as Sats) were introduced in 1995 - before the Labour government launched its strategies.It said most of the improvements in standards came after national curriculum tests (known as Sats) were introduced in 1995 - before the Labour government launched its strategies.
The report said: "By the time that the national strategies were first assessed in 1999 and 2000 in English and maths respectively, the initial burst in performance had already begun to tail off.The report said: "By the time that the national strategies were first assessed in 1999 and 2000 in English and maths respectively, the initial burst in performance had already begun to tail off.
Our education system is letting down our children at every stage Anna Fazackerley, Policy Exchange It recommends national strategies be phased out and schools be allowed to choose their own literacy and numeracy programmes.
"In short, the majority of the progress towards the government's targets happened before the strategies were introduced." Head of the Policy Exchange's education unit, Anna Fazackerley, said children were being let down.
The report said national strategies should be phased out and schools should be allowed to choose their own literacy and numeracy programmes. "Even with lower pass marks, easier tests, widespread 'teaching to the test' and millions of pounds spent on consultants and advisers, our literacy and numeracy standards are woefully behind those of other countries," she said.
Head of the Policy Exchange's education unit, Anna Fazackerley, said: "A decade after the national strategies came into effect, only 56% of the boys and 66% of the girls who left primary school in 2008 could read, write and count to the minimum standard.
"Even with lower pass marks, easier tests, widespread 'teaching to the test' and millions of pounds spent on consultants and advisers, our literacy and numeracy standards are woefully behind those of other countries.
"Our education system is letting down our children at every stage - not only in primary schools. This report is an indictment of the failure of the government's education policy, which must be rectified."
Schools Minister Sarah McCarthy-Fry said: "Last year 120,000 more pupils left primary school having mastered the basics compared to 1997 and we've gone up in the latest international league tables.Schools Minister Sarah McCarthy-Fry said: "Last year 120,000 more pupils left primary school having mastered the basics compared to 1997 and we've gone up in the latest international league tables.
"Only 53% of children left primary school reaching the expected level in English and maths under the Tories. After a decade of investment and reform under Labour that's now up to almost three-quarters.""Only 53% of children left primary school reaching the expected level in English and maths under the Tories. After a decade of investment and reform under Labour that's now up to almost three-quarters."
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