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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Curriculum 'to focus on basics' | Curriculum 'to focus on basics' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| England's secondary curriculum is being overhauled to "focus on getting the basics right", the government says. | England's secondary curriculum is being overhauled to "focus on getting the basics right", the government says. |
| Presenting the changes Schools Secretary Ed Balls said there would be "no dumbing down". | Presenting the changes Schools Secretary Ed Balls said there would be "no dumbing down". |
| The changes aim to protect traditional aspects of the curriculum but free up a quarter of the day so teachers can focus more on individual students. | The changes aim to protect traditional aspects of the curriculum but free up a quarter of the day so teachers can focus more on individual students. |
| Subjects such as personal finance and cookery are likely to be included - plus languages like Mandarin and Urdu. | Subjects such as personal finance and cookery are likely to be included - plus languages like Mandarin and Urdu. |
| Traditional subjects | |
| The government said its aim was to introduce more topical issues relevant to youngsters' everyday lives. | |
| There will be an even stronger focus on traditional subjects Ed BallsSchools Secretary | |
| The Department for Children, Schools and Families said the changes would mean teachers could focus on pupils struggling with maths and English, as well as giving others "extra challenges to motivate and enthuse them". | The Department for Children, Schools and Families said the changes would mean teachers could focus on pupils struggling with maths and English, as well as giving others "extra challenges to motivate and enthuse them". |
| Part of the focus on "the three Rs" is aimed at impressing employers, who bemoan the unemployability of many young people. | Part of the focus on "the three Rs" is aimed at impressing employers, who bemoan the unemployability of many young people. |
| Mr Balls said: "By cutting duplication and clutter in the curriculum, teachers will have more time to concentrate on what is vital. | Mr Balls said: "By cutting duplication and clutter in the curriculum, teachers will have more time to concentrate on what is vital. |
| "As well as a good grasp of grammar, spelling and arithmetic we need school leavers to be confident individuals with a dynamic can-do attitude - as a nation we cannot afford to let teenagers fall by the wayside. | "As well as a good grasp of grammar, spelling and arithmetic we need school leavers to be confident individuals with a dynamic can-do attitude - as a nation we cannot afford to let teenagers fall by the wayside. |
| "There will be an even stronger focus on traditional subjects too and we will protect the classics. | "There will be an even stronger focus on traditional subjects too and we will protect the classics. |
| "Youngsters will continue to study the likes of Shakespeare, Chaucer, Wordsworth, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte and Dickens." | "Youngsters will continue to study the likes of Shakespeare, Chaucer, Wordsworth, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte and Dickens." |
| Dr Ken Boston, chief executive of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, insisted the changes were about adapting to the needs of the 21st century. | |
| He said: "It has always been the role of schools to respond to the needs of the time." | |
| Steve Sinnott, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "If teachers feel that they have far greater flexibility and creativity in teaching the curriculum then all young people will benefit." | Steve Sinnott, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "If teachers feel that they have far greater flexibility and creativity in teaching the curriculum then all young people will benefit." |
| Educationalist Prof Stephen Hepple said he hoped the changes would allow schools to integrate teaching, so topics like climate which overlap different subject areas are taught in an co-ordinated manner. | |
| He added: "Schools need the space to borrow great ideas from around the world." | |
| 'Too crowded' | |
| Anne Kiem, of the Institute of Financial Services School of Finance, acknowledged that introducing lessons in managing personal spending would involve extra training for teachers, but said such classes would have huge benefits for children. | Anne Kiem, of the Institute of Financial Services School of Finance, acknowledged that introducing lessons in managing personal spending would involve extra training for teachers, but said such classes would have huge benefits for children. |
| She said: "We're not talking about high finance - it's things like how do you open a bank account, how do you pay a cheque. | She said: "We're not talking about high finance - it's things like how do you open a bank account, how do you pay a cheque. |
| "This is something that they can apply as soon as they walk out of the door." | "This is something that they can apply as soon as they walk out of the door." |
| Peter Hyman, a former Downing Street speechwriter who is now a teacher in a north London comprehensive, welcomed the move and said teachers needed greater freedom to help boost children's' skills. | Peter Hyman, a former Downing Street speechwriter who is now a teacher in a north London comprehensive, welcomed the move and said teachers needed greater freedom to help boost children's' skills. |
| He told the BBC's Today programme: "The curriculum is far too crowded at the moment. | |
| "I would do far more on schools preparing pupils for learning and making them more independent." | "I would do far more on schools preparing pupils for learning and making them more independent." |