We can start creating a broader curriculum without a review
Pearson’s Managing Director of School Assessment and Qualification, Sharon Hague, penned an article about efforts to broaden the curriculum for Schools Week recently.
Her article discusses the importance of creating a broader curriculum without waiting for the outcomes of the Curriculum and Assessment Review. While dramatic curriculum changes might grab attention, lasting progress is more likely to come from steady, incremental adjustments.
Immediate steps can be taken to ensure that more young people benefit from a broader, more creative curriculum sooner rather than later. For example:
- A statement from the education secretary highlighting the importance of creativity could have a powerful impact.
- Ofsted could update the inspection framework to reward schools for offering a well-rounded curriculum with creative and well-taught vocational subjects.
- Adjustments to the content and structure of creative subjects, such as reducing the emphasis on written exams and focusing more on practical assessments, could make these subjects more accessible and appealing.
- Small adjustments to core subjects could introduce more creative learning opportunities without requiring a systemic overhaul.
- Streamlining the curriculum by reducing the content load in some subjects could free up time for more diverse and engaging learning experiences.
These steps, including strong government signals, Ofsted updates, and focused curriculum adjustments, could fast-track the benefits of a more balanced education.