Items tagged as "curriculum"

This NEW report from Department for Education summarises the Expert Panel’s thinking on a range of fundamentally important issues, which are crucial to defining an overarching conception of the purposes, shape, size and structure of the curriculum.

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 Free download of:The Framework for the National Curriculum – A report by the Expert Panel for the National Curriculum review PDFDocument

  The report focuses in particular on a number of recommendations, some of which have the potential to result in  radical change to the National Curriculum, beyond change to curriculum content.
 

  It is hoped that the report will help to generate public discussion and constructive contributions to the Department’s review of the National Curriculum over the weeks and months to come.

It includes:
• Knowledge, Development and the Curriculum
• Aims and Purposes of the Curriculum
• The Structure of the School Curriculum (for primary and secondary)
• Subjects in the Curriculum through the Key Stages of Schooling
• The Structure of Key Stages
• The Organisation of Programmes of Study
• The Form of Programmes of Study and Attainment Targets
• Assessment, Reporting, and Pupil Progression
• Oral Language and its Development within the National Curriculum
• Risks
• Conclusions
• Annexes
 

‘Creativity in the Curriculum’ is a one-day national conference held in London on 26 May 2011 brought to you by Optimus Education, Teaching Expertise and Curriculum Management. 

CapeUK’s Chief Executive Pat Cochrane will be chairing the Creativity in the Curriculum National Conference.  In the afternoon Pat will also lead workshops around effective teacher CPD in relation to creativity and how to influence staff, school leaders, pupils, parents about the value of creativity.

According to Ofsted, embedding creative approaches to learning in school has the power to improve pupil performance, increase motivation and raise levels of absolute attainment amongst students. The report 'Learning: creative approaches that raise standards' Ofsted 2010, emphasises the need for schools to encourage dialogue with teachers and active participation in lessons to contextualise learning and maximise engagement.
Click here for more information and to secure your place

Those attending the Creativity in the Curriculum conference will gain practical strategies and ideas that will help design a toolkit for creative learning in schools. They will hear practical ideas for lesson planning, themed weeks, assemblies and collapsed timetabling techniques that provide coherent learning experiences and creative opportunities for students.
On the day Patricia Metham HMI, and author of ' Learning: creative approaches that raise standards' Ofsted report, January 2010 will discuss the research that Ofsted have carried out looking at how pupil performance can be raised by placing greater emphasis on experiential, creative learning.

Further issues to be addressed over this practical event include:
• Cross-curricular learning: identify creative links across subject areas to contextualise learning and promote achievement
• Professional development: boost creativity amongst staff to encourage creative teaching and learning approaches
• Planning: build creativity objectives into lesson planning to increase pupils' capacity for engagement and imagination
• Innovation in technology: reinforce pupils' creative development by harnessing ICT across the curriculum
• Assessment: embed creative, adaptable approaches to assessment to improve learning and raise achievement

For more information please click here

There is to be a review of the primary and secondary National Curriculum in England.  The Department for Education has launched a ‘call for evidence’ – the closing date is a week today, the 14th April 2011.

The 51 page response form is rather overwhelming, but you don't have to fill in every section.  It is important that as many people as possible respond to this call for evidence and that the voice of those who care about creativity, and 21st century skills is heard.  

On the 15th and 16th March CapeUK brought together cultural, creative and educational leaders from across the region to discuss, debate and contribute to the National Curriculum Review – Call for Evidence.  Additionally on the 3rd March CapeUK hosted a session in Salford in partnership with the Arts Learning Consortium (ALC) to discuss their collective response to the Call for Evidence. 

The Cultural Learning Alliance have produced some handy tips for filling in the form which can be viewed by clicking here

We also recommend the Think Pieces and detailed research on each area of the curriculum review on the Coalition for Education’s website

We hope this will be of help as you construct your individual and organisational responses.

Please Respond

As you will know there is to be a review of the primary and secondary National Curriculum in England.  The Department for Education has launched a ‘call for evidence’ with a closing date of 14th April 2011. 

The 54 page response form is rather overwhelming, but it is important that as many people as possible respond to this call for evidence and that the voice of those who care about creativity, and 21st century skills is heard.  We are working in collaboration with the newly formed Coalition for Education in 21st Century (whose membership includes local authorities, universities and not for profit organisations such as CapeUK) to host two events (in West and South Yorkshire). 

We aim to bring together cultural, creative and educational leaders from across the region to discuss, debate and contribute to the National Curriculum Review – Call for Evidence. 

The sessions aim to help you to clarify the response you wish to make by sharing evidence and information we have received from other coalition members.  Your contribution will also help CapeUK to shape its response.  
 
The proposed changes to the National Curriculum are of concern to many of us.  How can we secure the ground gained in the  last decade in making  connections between different areas of learning;  interweaving knowledge, skills and understanding in ways that reflects how children and young people learn; ensuring that school learning connects with real life?  How can we best ensure that children and young people have access to high quality and wide ranging participatory music, dance, drama and art experiences?
 

CapeUK has worked with schools, teachers, creative organisations and creative professionals in relation to creativity and learning for the past 12 years.  With a national and international reputation in the field, we are keen to ensure that our education system continues to nurture the creativity of children and young people. 
 

These events are FREE to attend – please chose which date and click on the link to book online (places are limited);
 

15 March 2011 – West Yorkshire Carnegie Stand, Headingley, Leeds
 

16 March 2011 – South Yorkshire Eelctric Works, Sheffield

For further information please call CapeUK 0845 450 3700
 

If you cannot attend the session because of timing and short notice, but would like to be kept informed about discussion at the session please email jo.jessop@capeuk.org
 

Save the Date – Afternoon 15 March (Leeds) or 16 March (Sheffield) more information, venue details and opportunity to book onto the Curriculum Review Debate – Implications & Opportunities FREE event coming soon! 
 
Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education, has announced a review of the primary and secondary National Curriculum in England.  The Department for Education wants to hear your opinions and evidence.  Click here to read the consultation document and response form for the Government’s National Curriculum Review – Call for Evidence.
 
Additionally on the 3rd March the Arts Learning Consortium in partnership with CapeUK are to specifically dedicating the Networked Learning Event to discuss ‘Curriculum Review Debate: Implications and Opportunities’ in Salford – For more information please click here

Poet, writer and broadcaster, Ian McMillan, better known as the ‘Bard of Barnsley’, will front a major regional arts conference.  The event, entitled ‘Creating the Future’ looks at the role the arts have to play in 21st century education and learning and aims to attract delegates from the education, youth, community and cultural sectors across Yorkshire.  The conference has been initiated by ArtForms, Education Leeds, an organisation which supports schools to provide high quality learning opportunities in and through the arts.  Funding for the event has come from Arts Council England in Yorkshire.

Clare Price, Head of Arts Development at ArtForms in Leeds, said: “The aim of the event is to look at how we can ensure children and young people continue to access the highest quality arts provision wherever they live and learn.  We hope the conference will offer a day of lively debate, reflection and solution building.”

Ian is one of the inspirational keynote speakers and workshop leaders who will be delivering ‘Creating the Future’.  Maggie Atkinson, the Children’s Commissioner for England, and Pat Cochrane, Director of CapeUK, will also give keynote presentations.

Pat Cochrane says "There is so much evidence that if you engage children in arts and culture it boosts their sense of self belief, their confidence, their ability to make decisions and to deal with difficult ideas.  There is a danger that a polarisation is being created with a focus on raising standards and regarding arts and culture as softer subjects.”

CapeUK will also host a stall in ‘The Store’ which will be a market place of over 50 arts organisations and individual artists showcasing some of the best arts provision in the region.

Cluny Macpherson, the Regional Director of the Arts Council in Yorkshire, said: “The arts have a vital role to play in nurturing the skills and capacities required for a modern workforce.  They are also great fun. This conference will enhance our understanding of how we can tap into and develop children’s natural creativity – so that their lives will be enriched and many can emerge as the artists and audience members of the future.”

For further information contact Helen Taylor at ArtForms, Leeds on  0113 230 4074, email helen.taylor@educationleeds.co.uk or go to www.artformsleeds.co.uk

Click here to read Yorkshire Post article about the conference
 

Towards Creative and Cultural Development – reports from the front line….

The ‘new’ primary curriculum emphasised the significance of creativity and cultural access and development. It saw this as an entitlement for all and prescribed ways to encourage pupils’ and teachers’ understanding of creativity in the classroom. This report was, and still is, designed to offer specific advice on thinking and action for primary schools at this time of national change.

Good learning is rooted in being proactive, excited and challenged by the process, fascinated by the content and motivated by the outcome of the work. This lies at the heart of creativity and drives cultural development – and good teaching builds on this. Whatever shape the curriculum takes, this will always be a key driver in the learner / teacher relationship.