Education

[briantrumpet]

Just saw this pop up, and thought that education doesn't deserve to be lumped in with general news.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...-engage-pupils-in-vital-early-secondary-years

The 'Milburn Review' of KS3 (Y7-9) is on its way, with what's being touted as a major shake-up of the pre-GCSE years in secondary schools. The rationale sounds correct. Obviously there's a big difference between aspiration/rationale and delivery.

Too many children are switching off from school in their early teens – affecting their attendance, attainment and life outcomes. And many others are increasingly missing out on the rich and specialist education they should expect at secondary school or are being rushed through content before they have grasped the fundamentals.

As part of its wide-ranging plans to tackle disengagement, the disadvantage gap and the rising number of young people not in education, employment or training, the government will make the first three years of secondary school count, by restoring Key Stage 3 as a distinct three-year phase.

The new National Curriculum, due to be published in full later this year, which has been developed by subject experts, will see over-crowded content slimmed down and better sequenced across all school stages to create more space for deeper understanding and richer experiences that ignite a love of learning, ensure more children are stretched and make progress.

This will come with higher expectations on core knowledge and skills needed for the future, like oracy and confident speaking, reading fluently and reading for pleasure, and numeracy. There will also be a more engaging offer in subjects like drama, PE, music, and modern foreign languages, alongside technical and digital skills.