Support by Chapter

Chapter 14: The NQF, the NC and subjects within and outside it. The system of examinations in England and Wales

• Q11 Know the assessment requirements and arrangements for the subjects/curriculum areas in the age ranges they are trained to teach, including those relating to public examinations and qualifications.

This unit of work was designed by a third year BA Education (with QTS) student teacher for a Key Stage 2 (Year 3) English class (age 7-8 years). Note how she links the activities to the Primary National Strategy, in the 'Learning Objectives' column. She is careful to detail throughout the unit how the outcomes will be assessed, and to make links with other areas of the curriculum. This unit is also an example of medium term planning - how a sequence of lessons on a topic follow on from each other, although these may of course be adapted in the light of evaluation of the early lessons. With thanks to Alison Pymm (Sheffield Hallam University)

The slides show recent (2007/8) curriculum change

Key reading

DfES (2004) 14-19 Curriculum and Qualifications Reform, Final Report of the Working Group on 14-19 reform (known as the Tomlinson report)

QCA (2007) Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage

Curriculum Methodology: A Case Study in Large-scale Curriculum Development Tim Hutchings and Danny Saunders. Active Learning in Higher Education, Dec 2001; vol. 2: pp. 143 - 163

Websites

QCA National Curriculum in Action - exemplification of pupils' work in different subjects and at different levels of the National Curriculum www.ncaction.org.uk

SureStart, a government programme bringing together early education, childcare, health and family support for the benefit of young children: www.surestart.gov.uk

Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA): http://www.aqa.org.uk

City and Guilds: http://www.cityandguilds.com

Edexcel: http://www.edexcel.org.uk

Oxford Cambridge and RSA examinations (OCR): http://www.ocr.org.uk

WJEC/CBAC (previously known as the Welsh Joint Education Committee): http://www.wjec.co.uk

Department for Children, Schools and Families: http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/locate

National Assessment Agency, responsible for National Curriculum assessment and testing at key stages 1, 2 and 3: www.naa.org.uk

National Curriculum online: www.nc.uk.net

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority: www.qca.org.uk

Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales: www.accac.org.uk

Teachernet, a government site for teachers and schools-related profession: www.teachernet.gov.uk