The New Curriculum 2014
The National Curriculum defines the programmes of study for key subjects in maintained/state primary and secondary schools in England. It sets out what your child is supposed to learn and when.
From September 2014 and into 2015, children will be taught in line with new programmes of study and new attainment targets will eventually completely replace the existing National Curriculum.
Below is a brief overview of the main changes to the curriculum:
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Subject
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What’s new?
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English
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- Stronger emphasis on vocabulary development, grammar, punctuation and spelling (for example, the use of commas and apostrophes will be taught in KS1)
- Handwriting – not currently assessed under the national curriculum – is expected to be fluent, legible and speedy
- Spoken English has a greater emphasis, with children to be taught debating and presenting skills
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Maths
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- 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 12x12 (currently 10x10 by the end of primary school)
- Calculators will not be introduced until near the end of KS2, to encourage mental arithmetic
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Science
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- 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
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Design & technology
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- Afforded greater importance under 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
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ICT
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Languages
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- 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
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