Changes to teaching and learning: the new secondary curriculum

The new curriculum places a strong emphasis on the development of skills for life and work. These include a new framework for personal, learning and thinking skills, with functional skills, which may be incorporated into English, mathematics and ICT.

Key features:

• Includes all existing curriculum subjects.
• Less prescribed content.
• Clearer links between subjects.
• More flexible learning experiences to meet individual learner needs.

What's happening and when

• From September 2007: Curriculum available to schools for planning purposes.
• From September 2008: The curriculum will become statutory in year 7, with first assessment by July 2011.

What changes to look out for

• A wider range of qualifications in your centre.

The revised curriculum will allow centres more flexibility in what is taught and in the qualifications offered to learners.