LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT - National Curriculum
National curriculum (It's all Greek to me!)
Actually, the word Curriculum is Latin, and its modern meaning is a course of study offered by a school.
In order that education is standardised across the country the Government introduced a National Curriculum for schools in 2007 and made it law that schools adhere to it by 2008. The National Curriculum website will give you all the information you need to understand what its aim are but in essence:
"The National Curriculum is the agenda for teaching and learning in schools. It establishes the subjects taught and the knowledge, skills and understanding required for each subject. It also sets standards for each subject, outlining targets that children should be encouraged to achieve. Additionally, the National Curriculum determines the assessment methods that are used to measure children’s progress. Schools have the opportunity to choose how to best teach the National Curriculum to their pupils, and to create their own lesson plans and learning methods according to their pupils’ individual requirements."
(Source: National curriculum website home page)
The site also gives a very useful guide to the stages children pass through as they transit the educational system. These "key stages" are also explained in the "Key Stage" section of this website.
The National Curriculum website will give you full details of the National Curriculum for Upper and Secondary schools, but the link below will take you to the National Curriculum booklet covering the curriculum for primary schools.