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The Primary Curriculum Review
In the Autumn of 2007 two ground-breaking reviews were published.
1. In October 2007 The Primary Review (TPR) directed by Professor Robin Alexander
2. In December 2007 The Children's Plan by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) which included the initiation of a Primary Curriculum Review led by Sir Jim Rose
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There has been considerable and selective airing of opinion in the media regarding both initiatives.
Below is a summary of the reviews and actions taken, and to be taken, by the Geographical Association through its Governing Body and Education Committee (of which the Early Years & Primary Phase Committee is a part).
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This is an independent review, funded by Esmée Fairburn and emanating from Cambridge University, based upon a thorough overview of research into the education children receive during their primary years. The review combines analysis of current practice with a vision for the future. It is in the process of publishing 33 interim reports and asks for your views on these before publishing a full report in the Autumn of 2008
The reports and rationale can be viewed and downloaded from the Primary Review website. Lists of Interim Reports and Perspectives, Themes And Sub-Themes can be downloaded below:
Download: Interim Reports
Download: Perspectives, Themes and Sub-Themes
The Early Years & Primary Phase Committee responded to an initial consultation in March 2007. In November, a detailed response was created to answer questions raised in the first long report published in October. Through the Education Committee, this response has been lodged with The Primary Review including reference to and copies of The Primary Handbook (Ed. Stephen Scoffham) and Researching Primary Geography (Eds Simon Catling and Fran Martin). It addresses 13 specific questions under four main headings from 44 questions given at the end of the first report Community Soundings. A full list of questions can be downloaded below:
Download: Questions asked by the Primary Review
Before the end of March 2008 there will have been 33 reports published (see list), usually in groups at three to four week intervals. Each report has its own Press Release, Summary and Full report.
All the publications are available in several forms and a progress report can also be viewed online.
Professor Alexander is contributing, at national conferences and in lectures, further insights to the larger issues which arise out of considering the education of the primary child from all viewpoints. Last November he presented a 'new vision for primary education' (PDF) to the Worshipful Company of Weavers. This March he gave the keynote lecture at the GTC and Children's Society Conference Childhood, Wellbeing and Primary Education on 'Emerging Perspectives On Childhood' (PDF). They make interesting reading in the light of the DCSF Children's Plan. There will no doubt be further keynote lectures which will be made added to the GA website as soon as they become available.
Research papers have been published by the Cambridge based independent TPR until May 2008 and were commented upon regularly by both the Guardian and the Times - see TPR - Press Coverage. A full report will be available early in 2009.
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The Children's Plan sets out how the DCSF plans to make this country the best place in the world for children and young people to grow up, by putting the needs of families, children and young people at the centre of everything we do.
Amongst the objectives stated in December are:
'A root and branch review of the primary level curriculum to ease the transition from early years into school, to create an even sharper focus on Maths and English and to give teachers more flexibility in the school day. Sir Jim Rose, whose groundbreaking review placed the teaching of synthetic phonics as the key to literacy, will lead the review.'
Since then, in a published letter there has been moderation/expansion to these points.
The timescale for the curriculum review is suggested to be:
an intrim report on the Primary Curriculum Review by 31 October 2008
followed by final advice and revised programmes of study at the end of March 2009
Sir Rose's review will be supported by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) who will take the leading role in providing the evidence required for the review and who will manage the associated consultations. See the QCA website pages on 'Thinking Primary'.
An online consultation was held in Spring 2008 consisting of five major questions. These have been responded to in several ways.
On 31 March the Council for Subject Associations (CfSA) held a discussion conference addressed by both Professor Alexander (see above) and Sir Jim Rose. We have now received a summary of Sir Jim Rose's speech and his letter inviting contributions of evidence for the five sets of questions. There is also the correlated outcomes of the group's discussions from the CfSA Primary Review event on the 31 March 2008. This forms part of CfSA's response to the call for evidence from the Primary Review team.
We hope you managed to respond to the Independent Review of the Primary Curriculum (DCSF) by the 30 April deadline. The Early Years and Primary Phase Committee responded online in support of a longer document sent separately by the GA's Education Committee. A joint response was also made by the Education Committees of the Geographical Association and the Historical Association. A summary of the collected evidence is now available to download from the DCSF website.
The debate is being continued on the QCA 'Thinking Primary' pages which include a survey. Interesting observations from individual schools can be found under the heading 'From where we stand' with links to further consultation questions. Please add your opinion to this evidence collecting exercise - individual responses are anonymous but each response counts. There is excellent work developing on the cross-curricular front but the foundation subjects must be sure that revisions of the curriculum do not entail a reduction of specific subject integrity.
As a geographical community, we know that teachers are working hard to make links across subjects. We would like you to champion your inspirational geography work with children by replying to these consultation questionnaires. We know how the Geography Curriculum can lead the way with enquiry, fieldwork and cross-curricular ideas. This is a vital time to be making your voice be heard, in order to enable geography to retain its stronghold within curriculum innovation.
We will continue to update this site with details of developments affecting the primary curriculum and with notices of further consultations. Meanwhile your comments are always welcome via the form below.
Thank you.
Rachel Bowles & Helen Martin
Early Years & Primary Phase Committee
August 2008
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