What's New in Learning in Schools

To find out about the Government's current and future strategy for education in England visit the Education Overview page of the Department of Children, Schools and Families's (DCSF) TeacherNet website listed first under Useful Websites on this page. It has briefings on current education policy, strategy and developments, a strategy archive, current consultations, official organisations governing the education system, guidance on UK examinations and qualifications, a glossary of education terms. In addition the TeacherNet events calendar shows important deadlines and dates, and the DCSF Online Publications website allows you to download or order most documents and resources produced by the Department.

Independent Review of the Primary Curriculum

Sir Jim Rose has been asked by the Government to carry out an independent review of the primary curriculum in England. The interim report was published on 8 December 2008. It presents work in progress to put forward recommendations to create the best curriculum. For more information follow the link below to the Independent Primary Review.

14-19 Education and Skills

The 14-19 reforms will give all young people the opportunity to choose a mix of learning which motivates, interests and challenges them, and which gives them the knowledge, skills and attitude they need to succeed in education, work, and life. For more information go to the Department for Children, Schools and families website below.

Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto

Every young person should experience the world beyond the classroom as an essential part of learning and personal development, whatever their age, ability or circumstances. To make this a reality, a Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto has been launched. The Manifesto acts as a shared statement of intent for all who see the benefits to young people and want to help bring about this vision of high quality, meaningful learning experiences for all.

All who support the Manifesto's vision are invited to endorse and champion it by becoming a signatory, and to pledge any actions they are planning to take in support of the stated aims. To find out more go to the useful websites section below.

Personalised Learning

Personalised learning involves 'high expectation of every child, given practical form by high-quality teaching based on a sound knowledge and understanding of each child's needs', said Miliband. It is not individualised learning where pupils sit alone at a computer. Personalised learning involves the teaching, curriculum and school organisation being designed to reach as many pupils as possible with diverse needs and experiences for as much of the time as possible. To find out more go to the TeacherNet link in Useful Websites below.

Thinking Skills in Primary Classrooms

Thinking skills approaches are emerging as a powerful means of engaging teachers and pupils in improving the quality of learning in classrooms.

Thinking Skills can be developed and promoted through education in museums. Thinking skills include:

Information Processing
Reasoning
Enquiry
Creative Thinking
Evaluation

Creativity

For more information go to the page on this site about Creativity.

Excellence and Enjoyment: A Strategy For Primary Schools

For more information go to the page on this site about How the National Curriculum Works.

Extended Schools

For more information go to the page on this site about Out of School Hours Learning or look at the website link below.

Children's Trusts

Children's Trusts are a new way of organising local authority services. They bring together all services for children and young people in an area, underpinned by the Children Act 2004 duty to cooperate, to focus on improving outcomes for all children and young people.

They will support those who work every day with children, young people and their families to deliver better outcomes - with children and young people experiencing more integrated and responsive services, and specialist support embedded in and accessed through universal services.

People will work in effective multi-disciplinary teams, be trained jointly to tackle cultural and professional divides, use a lead professional model where many disciplines are involved, and be co-located, often in extended schools or children's centres. It is important that museum professionals contact their local Children's Trust and become involved in this movement.

The Children's Plan

The Children's Plan, which can be downloaded from the Department for Children, Schools and Families website, sets out how the DCSF is going to achieve the Government's aim of making this country the best place in the world for children and young people to grow up.

Youth Matters Green Paper

On 18 July 2005 the Government published the Youth Green Paper, Youth Matters. It addresses key issues relating to how teenagers are supported and challenged. Building on Every Child Matters, which promotes the idea that all young people should achieve five key outcomes (being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and achieving economic well-being), Youth Matters aims to radically re-shape services for young people. A consultation is in progress which sets out a comprehensive package aimed at improving outcomes for all young people, with a particular emphasis on those who are disadvantaged.

Download

MLA South East Extended Schools Opportunities for Museums to Contribute (PowerPoint 930Kb) Shannon Moore, Senior Adviser, Oxfordshire County Council.

MLA South East Making Learning Personal (Word DOC, 59Kb) Simon Lockwood, History and Geography Adviser, Buckinghamshire County Council.

Useful Websites

All the links below will open a new window. Close that new window to return here.

Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) Teacher Net website for Education Overview.

DCSF website for more information on the Independent Primary Curriculum Review.

Children's Plan DCSF website.

Extended Schools: Building on Experience Every Child Matters website.

Learning Outside the Classroom on the Group for Education in Museums (GEM) website.

Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto on Teacher.net.

Personalised Learning on TeacherNet.

Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) Standards site for more information about Thinking Skills.

National Curriculum website to find out more about Creativity.

Every Child Matters for more information about Children's Trusts.

DCSF for more information on the Youth Matters Green Paper.

DCSF 14-19 Education and Skills for information about the new reforms and Diplomas.

DCSF Standards site for the latest standards news in education and copies of recent reports.

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