The secondary curriculum

This is an exciting moment in the development of secondary education. A new curriculum is being introduced that will enable schools to raise standards and help all their learners meet the challenges of life in our fast-changing world.

Nationally, our challenge is to create a curriculum that:

• raises achievement in all subjects, particularly in English and mathematics

• equips learners with the personal, learning and thinking skills they will need to succeed in education, life and work

• motivates and engages learners

• enables a smooth progression from primary, through secondary and beyond

• encourages more young people to go on to further and higher education

• gives schools the flexibility to tailor learning to individual and local needs

• ensures that assessment supports effective teaching and learning

• provides more opportunities for focused support and challenge where needed.

A new, high-quality National Curriculum has been established, which guarantees an entitlement for all. However, there is sufficient flexibility within this for schools to build their own curriculum that reflects their local context and meets their learners’ needs, capabilities and aspirations.

You will find information on what is statutory and non-statutory in the subjects section.

You will find information on what is statutory and non-statutory in the subjects section.

The new key stage 3 programmes of study are to be implemented as follows:

Year 7 from September 2008

Year 8 from September 2009

Year 9 from September 2010

Attainment targets are to be used for assessment from 2011.

The requirements for key stage 4 will come into force as the new GCSE qualifications in the relevant subjects begin. Citizenship and PE begin implementation in 2009 and English, mathematics and ICT in 2010.