Curriculum overcrowding: the elephant in the room?

NAHT calls for a slimmed down curriculum to improve outcomes for all

Since the introduction of the revamped curriculum in 2014, and the shift to a curriculum-focused Ofsted Inspection framework in 2019, teachers, pupils and parents have reported increased workload and higher stress levels.

However, despite many educators believing the curriculum to be overcrowded, as illustrated by our Leaders survey, meaningful conversations have only just begun to make headlines in light of the Department for Education’s Curriculum and Assessment Review.

?

Curriculum reforms root cause of SEND crisis?

As E-ACT CEO, Tom Campbell, asserted last week, when he cited the current curriculum and assessment system as the catalyst for the SEND crisis, the impact of curriculum overcrowding goes beyond workload and wellbeing, it impacts outcomes – particularly those of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.?

Explaining the issue, SEND expert and author, Georgina Durrant, said:?

‘We are not meeting the needs of many learners with SEND with the current curriculum and assessment model.?

‘The curriculum is too narrow to allow all pupils to thrive and the academic pressures often act as a barrier to success.?

‘Children and young people deserve an inclusive education with a curriculum that allows for them all to succeed.’

?

Time for change: NAHT calls for slimmed down curriculum?

In response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review, the NAHT’s general secretary, Paul Whiteman, has called for change.?

‘The national curriculum and qualification specifications are overcrowded and unmanageable’, he said.?

He added: ‘This is a golden opportunity to update a 10-year-old curriculum so that it is relevant, fully reflects the diversity of our society and prepares children and young people for their lives in the modern world.’?

Explaining the benefits, Whiteman believes that a slimmed down curriculum could have a positive impact on; the quality of education, engagement, and subsequently behaviour for learning, wellbeing and SEND attainment.??

Whiteman shared: ‘Reducing the overall burden of content could have a range of positive impacts – improving the quality of teaching and learning, enhancing pupils’ experiences of learning, increasing engagement, and creating the flexibility needed to ensure learning is relevant to pupils in every school community and better meet individual needs.’?

?

Primary statutory assessment system ‘does not support progress’

Whiteman also believes that the primary assessment is in need of an overhaul:?

‘The primary statutory assessment system, including SATs, does not support children’s progress, foster positive mental health, or encourage a broad and balanced curriculum.’?

Outlining what he believes to be part of the solution, Whiteman calls for the removal of the following assessments: ‘The Multiplication Tables Check, Phonics Screening Check and Key Stage 2 Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling test are unnecessary and should be scrapped.’

?

EBacc must be scrapped to broaden the curriculum?

Whiteman also asserts that to achieve a truly broad and inclusive curriculum that is fit for purpose in modern society, we need to shift away from policies that have narrowed the curriculum.?

He said: ‘The curriculum and qualification offer has also been distorted by policies including the publication of narrow, high-stakes performance measures.’?

‘Measures such as the EBacc must be scrapped and Progress 8 reformed if the government truly wants to encourage curriculum breadth and take up the creative arts’, he continued.?

Speaking of the solutions, Whiteman believes that a wider range of qualification options should be introduced to represent the diverse needs of learners.?

‘Young people have a wide range of abilities, strengths and ambitions and a much wider range of qualifications than GCSEs, A levels and T levels is necessary to meet those needs and to assess their achievements.?

'What is needed is an offer which gives everyone the opportunity to access and achieve meaningful qualifications across a range of academic and vocational subjects using a variety of assessment methods.’?

?

Digest would like to hear your thoughts. Get in touch in the comments below!