Industry News

National curriculum changes 'increasing sector divide'

Posted on 28th July 2008

For Parents

For Student/Child

For Schools

Discounted goods for you and your child, for school and home

A former private school head has raised concerns that recent and proposed changes to the national curriculum could lead to a widening divide between the maintained and independent sectors.

Writing in the Times Educational Supplement, former head of the Perse School Dr Nigel Richardson noted that while many independent schools once embraced the national curriculum, alterations mean that many are now backing away from it.

He raises concerns about the "watering down" of requirements for modern language GCSEs, as well as the quality of the new GCSE science syllabuses.

Dr Richardson also points to key stage testing as a central feature of "the distorted picture that league tables can create".

And he refers to the controversial Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), due to be introduced this autumn, which he states is viewed as "sinisterly over-prescriptive" by private schools.

This follows criticism of the EYFS last week by members of the Open Eye Campaign, which lobbies for more open early years' education.
ADNFCR-921-ID-18704135-ADNFCR