PASS NOTES ON THE NEW CURRICULUM

The current curriculum and assessment arrangements at schools in Wales have been in place since 1988

The Welsh Government wanted to update it to be more relevant and responsive to the needs of learners and the economy

It commissioned Professor Graham Donaldson of Glasgow University, a former teacher and chief inspector of schools, to consider new assessment and curriculum arrangements

From 2022 the new curriculum based on Donaldson’s recommendations - will replace existing key stages for expectations at ages five, eight, 11, 14 and 16 with ‘progression steps’. These steps are divided into six Areas of Learning and Experience (AoLE) – expressive arts; health and well-being; humanities; languages, literacy and communication; mathematics and numeracy; and science and technology

Literacy, numeracy and digital competence will also be cross-curriculum, with all teachers expected to deliver them

The Welsh Government says it aims for pupils to be increasingly bilingual with a strong grasp of other languages

More than 175 “Pioneer Schools” have been testing the curriculum changes since the reforms were announced three years ago, with the help of school improvement consortia and local education authorities

Assessment reforms already underway with new made in Wales GCSE, Welsh Baccalaureate, AS and A levels and the creation of Qualifications Wales to act as an independent regulator of general and vocational qualifications in Wales

From now to 2019 the curriculum will continue to be developed

2019: new curriculum available for feedback

2020: new GCSES will be developed from 2020 with first teaching from 2026 Final curriculum ready Jan 2020 September 1 2022: All maintained schools teaching new curriculum with phased roll out until 2026.