The Curriculum for Wales journey continues to move forward in September 2022 - what does this mean for you and your children?
THERE ARE EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS IN SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION SETTINGS ACROSS WALES AS THE CURRICULUM FOR WALES JOURNEY KEEPS MOVING FORWARD IN SEPTEMBER 2022
EDUCATION in Wales is changing, with reforms and a new curriculum being introduced to support young people across Wales to develop the skills they need to make the most out of life.
From September 2022, all children in primary education will be learning in line with the Curriculum for Wales, as well as some in special and secondary schools or settings.
The following school year, from September 2023, all schools and education settings in Wales will be taking forward the new curriculum. We’ll see the first qualifications under this system awarded in 2027.
WHY IS THE CURRICULUM CHANGING?
Society and the world of work is constantly changing - our world has evolved since the national curriculum was first introduced in 1988.
Education in Wales is evolving too with a new curriculum framework to meet the needs of our children in this fast-changing world. Covid has also impacted well-being and learning, which the new curriculum is well placed to address.
As part of this evolution, the new Curriculum for Wales seeks to ensure young people are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for now and the future.
WHAT WILL CHANGE IN SEPTEMBER 2022?
Schools and education settings across Wales have been preparing for the new curriculum. You might not notice much change at first.
Changes to education began back in 2017 with schools, teachers, experts and the community working together to develop and trial new approaches as part of the Curriculum for Wales journey.
The way schools have operated during the pandemic has also brought forward changes in a lot of schools. Lessons learned from developing new approaches to engaging children and young people in learning during the pandemic will be carried over into Curriculum for Wales.
HOW IS THE CURRICULUM CHANGING?
What and how children and young people learn will be different from school to school. The national Curriculum for Wales framework will ensure consistency and core learning, but teachers and educators can decide what and how they teach to get the best out of their learners.
The Curriculum for Wales is about working together to develop an education that works for all learners. It’s an ongoing process of improvement that includes the whole school community to develop and define what matters to each school. This means there will be more opportunities for schools and parents/carers to work together, to produce a curriculum that is made in Wales, for learners in Wales.
It’s not just about what children learn, it’s about learning in a way that works for them. There will be a greater focus on personalised learning and one seamless curriculum for children aged 3 to 16. The principles of the Foundation Phase will remain but Key Stages 2, 3 and 4 will disappear.
Progression will now be the focus of learning: all children will be supported to progress along their own learning pathway at a pace that is right for them.
It will stretch to making sure the learner achieves their full potential.
Progression steps, broadly aligned to ages 5, 8, 11, 14 and 16, provide a guide to how they are progressing. Progression steps do not replace ‘levels’ that some parents and teachers are familiar with.
WHAT WILL THIS CURRICULUM LOOK LIKE?
Subjects will be grouped into six Areas of Learning and Experience, alongside literacy, numeracy and digital skills. Specific subjects will still be taught, but schools can decide to combine them so learners understand the links between them – for example, a topic like climate change could be looked at holistically across geography, history and science.
Four purposes also form the basis the Curriculum for Wales is built around, helping young people to be capable and ambitious, creative and enterprising, ethical and informed, healthy and confident.
Cross-cutting themes such as Religion, Values and Ethics, Cynefin, Careers and the world of work, and Relationships and Sexuality Education will be taught to all learners.
The well-being of learners will also be prioritised, and each school needs to make sure that well-being and mental health are central to the whole school.