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Curriculum, assessment and qualifications

 
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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. 

The DfE confirms funding will stop for 'legacy' Applied Generals and Tech Levels qualifications from August 2020

​The Department has confirmed two further measures to "support the government's ongoing review of qualifications at level 3 and below":

  • removing funding for 163 pre-existing qualifications in the 16 to 18 performance tables from August 2020
  • introducing a moratorium on approving any new qualifications at level 3 and below for funding, for students aged 16 and above, which will take effect from September 2020. 

 

The DfE has published a list of pre-existing qualifications in the 16 to 18 performance tables that they will stop funding from 1 August 2020, as part of their review of post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below in England. The Department will continue to fund students who have already started on these qualifications before 1 August 2020.

The list covers 163 Tech Levels and Applied General 'legacy' qualifications at level 3 that last appeared in the 16 to 18 performance tables for 2016 or 2017. The reformed versions of the qualifications will continue to be funded by the Department for Education.

The list sets out which funding streams will be affected, and how the pre-existing qualifications map to redeveloped qualifications. You can access the full list of qualifications affected here

The Department has also confirmed their intention to introduce a moratorium on approving any new qualifications at level 3 and below for funding, for students aged 16 and above, which will take effect from September 2020.

Review of post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below in England

The DfE has said the response to its first consultation will be published alongside the launch of the second consultation later this year, which will set out more detailed proposals for change, including the criteria that will be used to determine whether a qualification will be approved for public funding. 

First published 25 July 2019

First published 25 July 2019
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