New Curriculum

The new Key Stage 3 curriculum was launched in September 2008 with year 7 students and has a three year roll out. The new seven dimensions are:

identity and cultural diversity
healthy lifestyles
community participation
enterprise
global dimension and sustainable development
technology and the media
creativity and critical thinking

“The cross-curriculum dimensions are essential tools to help young people make sense of the wider world. They should permeate the curriculum and the life of a school.

Our planning guides will help teachers put the dimensions at the heart of lessons and ensure that learners understand the challenges that face the world today, such as creating a sustainable future for the planet.”
Mick Waters, Director of Curriculum at QCA

There is a one-stop website created by CfBT, click here, that you can register with. They have been working with the subject specialist organisations and advisers to create support for the implementation of the new curriculum: click here

Once you sign-in there are resources, links and video case studies with downloadable texts. You can download pdfs from the citizenship area on:

“Implications of the new citizenship POS, planning and taking first steps”
“ Citizenship new secondary curriculum FAQs”
“ Citizenship and the cross-curricular dimensions”
“ Making the most of the new curriculum to support the gifted and talented and students with SEN in citizenship”

In this area there is a page on the ‘Compelling Learning Experience’.

This states there are three main features to such an experience: 1. students have a say on what they are learning. 2. processes and content should be harmonised so that children learn through experience. 3. students input into real decision making and taking action.

To check whether your sessions are fulfilling this they suggest the key question, ‘Will this learning experience increase the sense of agency of my students?’

Modern Foreign Languages webpage on the new curriculum: click here

Aspect, The Association of Professionals in Education and Children's Trusts, click here, has a great newsletter about the implementation of the New Curriculum. Download the pdf: click here