Eye On Education: Curriculum review gives schools choice

EDUCATION secretary Michael Gove has announced a major review of the National Curriculum for schools.

But Shepley First School is one step ahead of him.

The review is led by the Department for Education and supported by a panel of experts including teachers, academics, and business representatives.

It plans to overhaul the current system which has seen Britain plummet in international league tables.

It aims to replace the current curriculum with one based on the best school systems in the world and provide a world-class resource for teachers and children.

The review will consider what subjects should be compulsory at what age and consider what children should be taught in the main subjects at what age.

The review also aims to give schools greater freedom to develop their curriculums to meet the needs of their pupils – and that’s what has been done at Shepley.

The school started its own curriculum review in September and adopted the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), which is proving a big hit with pupils and staff alike.

Sarah Crozier, deputy headteacher at Shepley, said the IPC was more suited to the children because it gave them a global view on the world, which is essential for later life.

She said: “It is packed full of fun activities and we all know children learn best when they are having fun!”

Classes at the school have been re-named after capital cities of the world and children are learning through a series of units which aim to focus on a combination of academic, personal and international learning.