Education and Child Matters

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What Is The National Curriculum And Other Curriculums?

 

WHAT IS A CURRICULUM?

The word ‘curriculum’ is used to describe all the academic content of subjects that is taught in an education establishment and the expected attainment levels and standards for each of the 4 key stages of education in primary and secondary school.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR THE DIFFERENT STAGES OF UK EDUCATION. 

The curriculum is taught through lessons and courses by a teacher. 

A curriculum is a complex and dynamic programme of study.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A CURRICULUM?

The benefits of a curriculum are:

  1. It creates an order and structure to what is taught in education establishments on a daily basis, weekly basis and term basis. 
  2. It guides teachers and students on what the end goal and target (the learning outcome) of a course or lesson is. If students achieve this then they can move onto the next course or lesson. It provides guidance of expected attainment levels.
  3. It allows students to move between many schools as the curriculum being taught is the same. 
  4. It standardises education allowing students to be taught the same content throughout the country. 
  5. It allows teachers to plan their lessons.
  6. It allows schools and teachers to connect with each other because they teach the same curriculum.
  7. It gives an outline of what needs to be taught to pass exams. 

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF A CURRICULUM?

Education is provided to all children in the UK because it sets them up for adulthood. Education will give children life skills, prepare them for a job and a career, give them a sense of maturity and provide a structure for their childhood. 

A curriculum gives education establishments a plan, a structure and guidance to provide this education. 

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CURRICULUM

WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF A CURRICULUM?

A curriculum comprises the following:

  1. The objective of the curriculum – This is basically what is the curriculum trying to achieve and expected outcome when it is taught. The objective gives a road map for the curriculum.
  2. The content of subjects to be taught – This is the material that is to be taught by education establishments to the students.
  3. The learning experience of the student – This is how the active behaviour of the student and the external environment of the student will combine to achieve the objective of the curriculum. 

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CURRICULUMS?

There are many different types of curriculum. In most cases a particular curriculum of an education establishment is a blend of a few of the types of curriculums below. The main ones are:

  1. Subject centred curriculum – This type of curriculum focuses on making sure that the central knowledge of a subject is passed onto the students during the course lessons.
  2. Learner centred curriculum – This type of curriculum focuses on student learning, how would a student go about solving a problem and the type of things a student would like to learn. 
  3. Spiral curriculum – This curriculum repeats some of the content of a subject throughout the students’ education years. Each time the topic is studied in greater depth.
  4. Assessed curriculum – There is an emphasis on different types of testing techniques to assess students’ learning. 
  5. Hidden curriculum – This curriculum concerns the unplanned beliefs, insights, values and things which are learned by students but are not planned or intentionally taught.
  6. Recommended curriculum – This curriculum is implemented by a particular government, education authority or professional organisation so that specific topics, subjects and courses are taught. There are specific learning areas, academic standards, and outcomes that are required.
  7. Written curriculum – A written curriculum is a documented programme (syllabus or lesson plan) implemented for teaching  

WHAT IS THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM?

The national curriculum is taught in most primary and secondary schools throughout the UK. It is implemented by the department of education to ensure conformity on standards of education, subjects and content being taught throughout the UK.

The national curriculum in England was introduced in 1988 under the education reform act. 

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR EDUCATION REFORM ACT.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM – OVERVIEW

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM – COLLECTION