Assessment and the National Curriculum

Everyone Matters, Everyone Helps, Everyone Succeeds

 The Curriculum at Manor

The National Curriculum in England is currently in a process of transition.  During the course of  this academic year and beyond to 2015, the obligation to teach programmes of study from the existing National Curriculum will be disapplied and new programmes of study and attainment targets will eventually completely replace the existing National Curriculum.  There will also be significant changes in the way we assess children's progress with the removal of levels.   We will be assessing without levels.  

Assessment without levels 

This year we have been part of a project with the Local Authority to develop assessment without levels.   We intend to adopt this new system from September 2015.   We will be having a series of meetings for parents to inform them of the changes to assessment and to help them to understand the key aspects of our new mastery curriculum.  

Click here to see the presentation given to parents

The following information will briefly outline the curriculum changes

What is the National Curriculum anyway?

The National Curriculum defines the programmes of study for key subjects in maintained/state primary and secondary schools in England (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own equivalents).  Fundamentally, it sets out what your child should learn during their time at school

Why the big curriculum change?

The main aim is to raise standards.  Although the new curriculum is intended to be more challenging, the content is actually slimmer than the current curriculum, focusing on essential core subject knowledge and skills.  It will focus on children mastering the core subjects and becoming more competent at using and applying their knowledge, understanding and skills. 

The main changes

The table below summarises the main changes in the core subjects: English, Maths and Science. Key changes in some other subjects have also been included.

Subject

What’s new?

English

·         Stronger emphasis on vocabulary development, grammar, punctuation and spelling (for example, 

          the use of commas and apostrophes will be taught in KS1)

·         Handwriting is expected to be fluent, legible and speedy

·         Spoken English has a greater emphasis, with children to be taught debating and presenting skills

Maths

·         Five-year-olds will be expected to learn to count up to 100 (compared to 20 under the current curriculum)            and learn number bonds to 20 (currently up to 10)

·         Simple fractions (1/4 and 1/2) will be taught from KS1 and by the end of primary school, children should               be able to convert decimal fractions to simple fractions (e.g. 0.375 = 3/8)

·         By the age of nine, children will be expected to know times tables up to 12×12 (currently 10×10 by the end of            primary school)

·         Calculators will not be introduced until near the end of KS2, to encourage mental arithmetic

Science

·         Strong focus on scientific knowledge and language, rather than understanding the nature and methods of            science in abstract terms

·         Evolution will be taught in primary schools for the first time

·         Non-core subjects like caring for animals will be replaced by topics like the human circulatory system

Design & Technology

·         Design and Technology has become more important in the new curriculum, setting children on the path to                   becoming the designers and engineers of the future

·         More sophisticated use of design equipment such as electronics and robotics

·         In KS2, children will learn about how key events and individuals in design and technology have shaped the              world

          Food technology is now part of the primary curriculum 

ICT now ‘Computing’

·         Computing replaces Information and Communication Technology (ICT), with a greater focus on                               programming rather than on operating programs

·         From age five, children will learn to write and test simple programs and to organise, store and retrieve data

·         From seven, they will be taught to understand computer networks, including the internet

·         Internet safety –Digital Literacy ‘E-Safety’– will be taught in primary schools

Languages

·         Currently not statutory, a modern foreign language or ancient language (Latin or Greek) will be                           mandatory in KS2. Children will be expected to master basic grammar and accurate pronunciation and to               converse, present, read and write in the language.

·         French is our MFL


At Manor, "Everyone matters, everyone helps and everyone succeeds" means providing the best possible Teaching and Learning opportunity for every child, utilising every opportunity at our disposal.  We aim to provide an outstanding curriculum, a curriculum of innovation and inspiration, which is continually evolving in the best interests of our pupils. 

In line with guidance from the Department of Education, the 'New National Curriculum programmes of study' have been introduced across the school.

To find more information about how our curriculum is designed please look under the Curriculum tab.