NAHT
Call us: 0300 30 30 333
Home Menu

Curriculum, assessment and qualifications

 
Curriculum_assessment_2 icon.jpg

NAHT is working to ensure that the curriculum supports the learning, progress and success of all pupils. NAHT supports the principle that a broad and balanced curriculum promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and prepares pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

NAHT is campaigning to: 

Support schools to provide a broad and balanced curriculum for their pupils

  • Challenge the government policy, including EBacc, which may narrow the curriculum
  • Enable and support schools to successfully deliver statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education
  • Lobby for improvements to government policy which supports schools to deliver inclusive education and fulfil their responsibilities under the public sector equality duty
  • Support schools to deliver effective careers education for all pupils
  • Support schools to deliver high-quality Religious Education to all pupils
  • Provide guidance, materials and information to support schools in educating pupils about environmental issues.

Ensure a valid and proportionate approach to statutory assessment in primary schools

  • Lobby the government to reconsider the introduction of the multiplication tables check
  • Lobby the government to ensure changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage and Early Learning Goals are appropriate and relevant for the early years sector
  • Influence the development and implementation of the reception baseline assessment
  • Support members to implement the new statutory assessment for pupils with SEND
  • Identify and challenge the STA over any impact on members of the contract change to deliver statutory assessment in the primary phase
  • Engage with the STA to influence changes and improvements to statutory assessment including moderation and maladministration
  • Campaign for KS2 SPAG to be made non-statutory and oppose any additional statutory testing in the primary phase
 

Ensure the KS4 and KS5 qualification framework and examination system is fit for purpose

  • Press the government, Ofqual and exam boards to ensure that reformed qualifications, both academic and vocational, meet the needs of all pupils and schools
  • Explore the issue of grade reliability, identifying solutions and improvements which are supported by members and pressing the government and Ofqual for appropriate action
  • Inform members of the latest developments in secondary assessment through engagement with Ofqual, JCQ and awarding organisations. 

Withdrawal of funding approval from qualifications with low and no publicly-funded enrolments

The government has issued the first part of their response to the first stage consultation on the review of post 16 qualifications at level 3 and below.

The government has issued a press release outlining their proposals. This confirms that more than 5,000 qualifications which are not being taken by anyone or are being studied by less than 100 students each year may lose government funding despite the fact that more than half of respondents were not in favour of removing public funding from low enrolment qualifications.

You can find and search the initial lists of qualifications with low and no publicly-funded enrolments in scope for removal of funding approval from 1 August 2021 here.

NAHT responded to this consultation on behalf of members and raised significant concerns regarding the withdrawal of funding from some qualifications with low enrolments. In our response we stated:

'Low enrolment in itself, is not a valid reason to remove approval for funding for a qualification. This would be fundamentally disadvantageous and detrimental to the learning opportunities of students with SEND, and the drive they have to move forward, be ready for challenge and feel ready for and valued by society. Such qualifications must therefore be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Students with SEND must have a qualification route that recognises their specific needs, and values them as learners and individuals as equals to their mainstream peers. It is not fair to disadvantage those with SEND by limiting their opportunities to embark on an appropriately challenging qualification. What is important is that each young person achieves the most that is possible for them, not to create barriers and inequalities with regards to what level of attainment is valued and what is not.'

From 13 February to 27 March 2020 awarding organisations will have an opportunity to notify the Department for Education if they believe a qualification on this list should be retained for funding.

Following the notification process, in July 2020 the DfE will confirm the final list of qualifications with low or no publicly-funded enrolments that will have funding approval removed.

If you are concerned about the potential removal of funding for any of these qualifications please contact your awarding organisation or email NAHT at policy@naht.org.uk and we will raise this with the relevant awarding organisation on your behalf.                                                                                                                                                                         

First published 28 February 2020

First published 28 February 2020
;