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2014THE

YEAR OF THE CURRICULUM

[your name]

National Union of Teachers

[your title]

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The Year of the Curriculum (YOC) is

• A joint venture between the NUT and the Curriculum Foundation, a not for profit organisation promoting a world class curriculum for every learner

• Designed to be a flexible CPD tool for use by teachers• A free, accessible online resource broken into units and

modules to be used at a pace individuals find appropriate for their needs

• An exploration and discussion of curriculum principles based on good practice from the UK and internationally

• Intended to empower teachers to ‘claim back’ ownership of the curriculum

• A consideration of the WHOLE curriculum, which considers but is not constrained by the National Curriculum

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The Year of the Curriculum (YOC) is

• Intended to inspire teachers and learners• Intended to restore professional control over the curriculum to

teachers and to generate professional courage• A comprehensive programme to engage participants in the

whole curriculum design process from first steps to implementation

• Designed to be used as a whole programme, or ‘dipped into’, depending on what is appropriate to individual needs

• An opportunity to organise members and to seek and share information from and between schools.

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YOC IS NOT

• Prescriptive• A ‘tick box exercise’, a set of rigid lesson plans, or an

off the peg solution to fulfilling the detailed statutory requirements of the National Curriculum

• Designed to be used with a ‘one size fits all’ approach• A panacea – separate negotiations continue with

Government about implementation, assessment and accountability

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YOC DESIGN

• 4 modules, each comprising 2 units• Each unit is subdivided into thematic sections• Released on a phased basis between January and

July 2014• Available online as powerpoint presentations on the

NUT website at http://teachers.org.uk/campaigns/curriculum

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Share information about the modules

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Year of the Curriculum CPD Conferences

YoC has been supported by 1-day regional CPD events

• Tuesday 25 February – Manchester, the Mechanics’ Centre• Tuesday 4 March – Newcastle/Gateshead, Hilton Hotel • Tuesday 11 March – London, NUT HQ• Tuesday 25 March – Exeter, Rougemont Hotel

More opportunities are planned for autumn term owing to the success of these events. Details will be posted on the website at http://teachers.org.uk/campaigns/curriculum

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The Year of the CurriculumA curriculum design programme produced in partnership with

the NUT

What are we trying to achieve?

How shall we organise learning?

How shall we evaluate success?

How do we make it

happen?

The programme consists of four modules, each with two units:

http://www.teachers.org.uk/campaigns/curriculum

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YOC Units

• Each of the 4 modules comprises 2 units• Together, the modules and units provide a

programme which progresses from considering the building blocks of the curriculum, to implementation

• The intention is to be flexible and adaptable to local circumstances and to be personalised for learners

• Teachers using the programme can start at the beginning and work through the suite of materials, or dip into those areas which would be most beneficial to their current CPD needs

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The new ‘National Curriculum in England Framework’ (September 2013) has only two paragraphs in section 3 under the heading ‘Aims’:

3.1 The national curriculum provides pupils with an introduction to the essential knowledge that they need to be educated citizens. It introduces pupils to the best that has been thought and said; and helps engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement. 3.2 The national curriculum is just one element in the education of every child. There is time and space in the school day and in each week, term and year to range beyond the national curriculum specifications. The national curriculum provides an outline of core knowledge around which teachers can develop exciting and stimulating lessons to promote the development of pupils’ knowledge, understanding and skills as part of the wider school curriculum.

To what extent will these ‘aims’ shape your thinking about your school’s aims?

Curriculum Aims – The Changing National Picture

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International PerspectivesWhere? Curriculum aims

Australia has committed to …

….supporting all young Australians to become successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed citizens.

Alberta, Canada

….students develop an interrelated set of attitudes, skills and knowledge that can be drawn upon and applied for successful learning, work and living

New Zealand ….confident, connected, actively involved lifelong learners

Hong Kong ….essential life-long learning experiences for whole-person development in the domains of ethics, intellect, physical development, social skills and aesthetics …. all students can become active, responsible and contributing members of society, the nation and the world

Singapore ….holistically nurturing students to become well-rounded persons - morally, intellectually, physically, socially and aesthetically

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Teachers in Manchester – They’re in

What did teachers say in Manchester?

 • “Very helpful and thought inspiring”

• “Super speakers. Innovative ideas on how to approach the new [national] curriculum…. A refreshing change”

• “Amazing conference. Great ideas for us to design a curriculum with confidence”

• “Though provoking, reassuring and an incentive to go back to school and start discussions”

•  

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Teachers in Manchester – They’re in

What did teachers say in Manchester?

 • “Informative, made you think, gave you courage and confidence

to be creative with the curriculum”

 • “Lots of good ideas and professional discussion”

 • “I enjoyed the event and it gave me inspiration to push for a real

change in my subject”

 • “Reassuring and liberating!”

 

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Teachers in Newcastle – They’re in

• What did teachers say in Newcastle?

 • “Good coverage of the rationale behind designing a

curriculum fit for purpose – reassured my thinking”

• “Any ideas I had for a short term fix have evaporated after today. We will begin a full review of our curriculum”

• “Developed confidence to go back and, as a staff, prepare for the changes next year”

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Teachers in Newcastle – They’re in

• What did teachers say in Newcastle?

 • “Excellent event with lots of sharing – it was lovely to hear like-minded

teachers with the propensity to inspire and motivate learning”

 • “Inspirational – I have come away with a ‘can-do’ attitude and hope for

our children”

 • “Very thought provoking. Clearly delivered and thorough. Good

opportunity for discussion”

 • “Feel reassured that what we have started in my school – overhauling

the curriculum – is right”

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Summary

1. Include a focus on The Year of the Curriculum on agendas for meetings

2. Talk about the YOC modules in newsletters

3. Encourage discussions about the Year of the Curriculum within and between schools

4. Circulate flyers about YOC – a new one will be available at NUT Annual Conference

5. Involve your ULR, your local NUT heads, your NUT officers, your school reps

6. We want The Year of the Curriculum to influence thousands of teachers – We’re In.

THANK YOU

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Photos

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