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/6324631.stm

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

Version 3 Version 4
Climate and slavery to be studied Plans for Mandarin school lessons
(1 day later)
Climate change, slavery and healthy cooking feature in a proposed shake-up of the curriculum for 11 to 14-year-olds in England. Secondary schools in England will be allowed to teach Mandarin or Arabic instead of EU languages as part of proposals to update the curriculum.
Climate change, slavery and healthy cooking also feature in a shake-up of what 11 to 14-year-olds should study.
Ministers asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to review Key Stage 3 to focus on essentials and make time for personalised learning.Ministers asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to review Key Stage 3 to focus on essentials and make time for personalised learning.
The resulting draft curriculum is to be published for consultation on Monday, but some elements have emerged already. The resulting plan is to be published in full for consultation on Monday.
Ministers have insisted a list of classic authors be retained in English.
Youngsters will continue to study all 12 national curriculum subjects.Youngsters will continue to study all 12 national curriculum subjects.
name="text"> Information 'Community cohesion'
The QCA's remit was to revise the programmes of study - the areas covered in each subject - for teaching from September 2008.The QCA's remit was to revise the programmes of study - the areas covered in each subject - for teaching from September 2008.
NATIONAL CURRICULUM There are 12 curriculum subjects: which two of these are NOT?Art and DesignCitizenshipDesign and TechnologyEnglishGeographyHistoryInformation and Communication TechnologyMathematicsModern foreign languageMusicPhysical EducationPersonal, Social and Health EducationReligious EducationScience class="" href="#answer">Answer It was asked to remove any overlaps - for example, control systems were in both design technology and information and communication technology. It was asked to remove any overlaps - for example, control systems were in both design technology and information and communication technology.
And it was asked to cut the amount of "detailed prescription" and what the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) calls "over-factual information".And it was asked to cut the amount of "detailed prescription" and what the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) calls "over-factual information".
At the moment schools have to teach a major EU language.
The Education Secretary, Alan Johnson, has said he believes it is right to vary this to add languages which might be economically useful or help community cohesion.
I want kids rolling their sleeves up Alan JohnsonEducation Secretary
So schools would be able to teach not just subjects like French, German and Spanish, but Mandarin, Urdu and Arabic as well.
"Young people need to be aware that languages can make you attractive to employers - and more employable," he said.
"We need to raise our game in languages in schools if we are to compete in an increasingly globalised economy."
The change is in line with proposals from Lord Dearing, who was asked to investigate the collapse of language study in secondary schools that followed the government's decision to make it optional after the age of 14.
No 'dumbing down'
In geography, the DfES says teachers will have greater opportunities to bring in "topical issues relevant to young people's lives".In geography, the DfES says teachers will have greater opportunities to bring in "topical issues relevant to young people's lives".
So they might learn more about global warming, sustainable development and global poverty.So they might learn more about global warming, sustainable development and global poverty.
'Academic excellence'
The department stressed there would be no "dumbing down" - core geographical skills and knowledge would be protected.The department stressed there would be no "dumbing down" - core geographical skills and knowledge would be protected.
"Ministers want to enthuse children about subjects like geography, while keeping alive traditional virtues of academic excellence," a spokesperson said."Ministers want to enthuse children about subjects like geography, while keeping alive traditional virtues of academic excellence," a spokesperson said.
Children would be able to influence the future of the planet directly by putting into practice what they had learnt - for example, by recycling waste and by saving energy. Life skills
Wilberforce
In history, all 11-14-year-olds would for the first time have to study the British slave trade.In history, all 11-14-year-olds would for the first time have to study the British slave trade.
Only this week, in a BBC interview, Chancellor Gordon Brown said he thought history was "a real issue for our future". They would find out about reformers such as William Wilberforce and Olaudah Equiano, and how the anti-slavery movement led to later campaigns and civil rights movements.
Whether in citizenship lessons or in history itself, "people do need to know more about what happened from the British Empire to the British fight for votes, to the rights of women, to this year people discussing what happened to the slave trade and how Britain was the first country in the world to abolish this." Other changes include a new emphasis on "essential life skills" such as practical cooking.
So children would find out about reformers such as William Wilberforce and Olaudah Equiano, and how the anti-slavery movement led to later campaigns and civil rights movements. Mr Johnson sees this as another weapon in the fight against obesity.
More immediately there is going to be a project for the coming summer term and a competition for schools, around the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act.
The department has been working with the Understanding Slavery Initiative to produce new learning resources.
I want kids rolling their sleeves up Alan JohnsonEducation Secretary Other changes include a new emphasis on "essential life skills" such as practical cooking.
Education Secretary Alan Johnson sees this as another weapon in the fight against obesity.
"I want kids rolling their sleeves up and actually getting to grips with preparing simple healthy meals from scratch," he said."I want kids rolling their sleeves up and actually getting to grips with preparing simple healthy meals from scratch," he said.
Recommended writers Ministers have also insisted a list of classic authors be retained in English.
The path to the revised curriculum has not been without its bumps. It hit the headlines in August with the suggestion that classic novels might be ditched.
Mr Johnson insisted this was not going to happen.
He had already written to the QCA to say he considered it particularly important to stress that some elements of study should be included - such as "illustrative lists of writers".
A few weeks later Schools Minister Jim Knight wrote again, saying the QCA should "continue to provide a recommended list of pre-20th Century authors and poets".
The choice of writers should be left to schools "but all pupils should cover some classic literature in English".
A DfES spokesperson said the QCA had had numerous discussions - including with ministers - about the changes. "Getting the new curriculum to this point has been an iterative process and, with the national consultation due to launch on Monday, it will continue to be so until it is finalised in June."
Answer: By law, Religious Education (RE) must be taught but is not actually part of the National Curriculum. In addition, there are non-statutory guidelines on teaching Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE).
Back to main text