This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/education/8025157.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Technology key in primary review Computers key in primary review
(about 1 hour later)
A major review of England's primary school curriculum says technology should be a new "centrepiece" along with English and maths. A major review of England's primary school curriculum says computer technology should be at its heart along with English, maths and wellbeing.
Former chief inspector of schools Sir Jim Rose recommends a new focus on speaking and listening skills.Former chief inspector of schools Sir Jim Rose recommends a new focus on speaking and listening skills.
And he says that children should be able to start school in the September after their fourth birthday, if parents wish. And he says children should be able to start school in the September after their fourth birthday, if parents wish.
Schools Secretary Ed Balls says he accepts Sir Jim's recommendations. Schools Secretary Ed Balls says he accepts Sir Jim's recommendations, subject to a consultation.
Mr Balls says the government will fund children to begin school in September after their fourth birthday from 2011. Mr Balls says the government will fund children to begin school in September after their fourth birthday from 2011, or pay for a nursery place up to 25 hours a week.
Some local authorities do this already, but some defer a child's start until January of the following year. About two thirds of local authorities already have a September start date, but some defer younger children's starts until January of the following year.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
But if parents wish, they can opt for a free full-time nursery place instead. Sir Jim's report stresses the importance of children's personal development, saying that wellbeing is underpinned by the acquisition of a range of skills.
His report stresses the importance of children's personal development, saying that children's wellbeing is underpinned by the acquisition of a range of skills.
The government recently said that personal, social and health education would be compulsory from age five.The government recently said that personal, social and health education would be compulsory from age five.
'Computer-savvy''Computer-savvy'
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.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 recommends the internet becomes embedded in the curriculum, with pupils using websites like Google Earth and Wikipedia. He recommends the internet become embedded in the curriculum, with pupils using websites like Google Earth and Wikipedia.
Primary teachers should be given extra training to stay ahead of computer-savvy pupils.Primary teachers should be given extra training to stay ahead of computer-savvy pupils.
The primary curriculum has become too "fat", he said. 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 primary curriculum has become too "fat", Sir Jim says.
"We need to slim it down and give teachers more flexibility and opportunity to think creatively," Sir Jim told Radio 4's Today programme.""We need to slim it down and give teachers more flexibility and opportunity to think creatively," Sir Jim told Radio 4's Today programme."
Children's reading and writing depended on what they could say.Children's reading and writing depended on what they could say.
"If children can't say it, they can't write it. The interdependency is very clear," he said."If children can't say it, they can't write it. The interdependency is very clear," he said.
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 designSUGGESTED 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
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.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.
But he stresses arts subjects, as well as history and geography, will still be given weight.But he stresses arts subjects, as well as history and geography, will still be given weight.
Previous reports that individual subjects would be undermined were inaccurate, he said.Previous reports that individual subjects would be undermined were inaccurate, he said.
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. Many subjects do not need to be taught discretely, and serve more than one purpose.
Drama, his report says, "is a powerful arts subject which also enhances children's language development through role play".
But it can also enrich personal development by exploring concepts such as empathy, as well as historical and religious studies.
'Shackles''Shackles'
Teaching unions have welcomed Sir Jim's focus on allowing teachers flexibility, but say the regime of testing is undermining attempts to improve the curriculum.Teaching unions have welcomed Sir Jim's focus on allowing teachers flexibility, but say the regime of testing is undermining attempts to improve the curriculum.
Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said Sir Jim "has not managed to break free from the shackles of the government's criteria for his review". Christine Blower, acting general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, says Sir Jim "has not managed to break free from the shackles of the government's criteria for his review".
"It is the high stakes requirements of testing that will continue to determine primary schools' priorities - not the permission to innovate that the review envisages.""It is the high stakes requirements of testing that will continue to determine primary schools' priorities - not the permission to innovate that the review envisages."
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.
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.
It recommends national strategies be phased out and schools be allowed to choose their own literacy and numeracy programmes. Schools should be allowed to choose their own literacy and numeracy programmes, it says.
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. But 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."
Are you a parent or a teacher? Should there be more emphasis on ICT in the primary school curriculum? Tell us your views by filling in the form below.Are you a parent or a teacher? Should there be more emphasis on ICT in the primary school curriculum? Tell us your views by filling in the form below.
A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions