A Breakdown of the 2014 Primary Curriculum

The new 2014 curriculum has now been released and although the basics are still there, quite a few things have changed. Below are some of the new primary school focusses for each subject, as well as any topics or ideas that are no longer being taught (I have taken this information from the Telegraph website).

ENGLISH

Age 5/6: Read using phonics, recite poetry by heart in class, learn alphabet, ensure left-handed pupils get help

Age 6/7: Write joined up words

Age 7/9: Use dictionaries for meaning

OUT: Prescribed lists of authors

MATHS

Age 5/6: Count to 100, use simple fractions, tell the time

Age 6/7: Add and subtract three-digit numbers

Age 8/9 Master 12 times tables, convert decimals and fractions

OUT: Using calculators at primary school in favour of mental arithmetic

SCIENCE

Age 5/6: Basic experiments with paper, elastic, foil, fabrics etc

Age 6/7: Introduction to reproduction in animals

Age 8/9: Building simple circuits with bulbs, buzzers etc

OUT: Non-science topics such as caring for animals

ART

Age 7/11: Mastery of drawing, painting and sculpture, maintain sketchbooks, focus on great artists from history

OUT: Vague references to “develop creativity and imagination”

COMPUTING

Age 5/7: Basic programming and debugging, online safety, storing information

OUT: Lessons in using word processing packages

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

Age 5/14: Cooking lessons throughout primary and secondary, including nutrition, preparing dishes, understanding seasonality and developing cooking techniques

Age 5/7: Cutting, shaping, joining and finishing using construction materials and textiles

OUT: Lessons in talking about what pupils “like and dislike when designing and making” and conceptual nature of D&T

GEOGRAPHY

Age 5/7: Names of oceans, continents, world map, countries of UK, weather seasons and fieldwork around school environment

HISTORY

Age 5/7: Study of famous individuals to compare life in different periods, eg. Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria, William Caxton and Tim Berners-Lee, Mary Seacole and Edith Cavell

OUT: Lessons on skills, concepts and historical processes

MUSIC

Age 5/7: Singing and playing tuned/untuned instruments

OUT: References to exploring ideas and feelings about music through movement and dance

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Age 5/7: Master basic movements (run, jump, throw, catch etc), introduction to team games

Age 5/11: Swim 25 meters, perform range of strokes, lifesaving techniques

OUT: References to creativity and theory in PE

What do you think about the proposed changes? Will the new curriculum greatly impact on how you plan your lessons and the content you include in them? If you have any thoughts then please add a comment below, alternately you can contact us via email or through our Facebook page.