Hello Robin and Gemmers

Thanks for setting this in process.

The changes to the English National Curriculum and the EngBacc
(EBacc?), alongside other structural changes such as local management
of schools, will surely have a major impact on providers of museum &
cultural learning.

There is also a consultation on the National Curriculum changes,
deadline 14 April
http://www.education.gov.uk/consultations/index.cfm?action=consultationDetails&consultationId=1730&external=no&menu=1
I've fed my views through the Cultural Learning Alliance (although
they wanted to receive views by 14th Feb to take time to produce a
deliberative paper). It would be excellent if GEM could collate a
response as well, or is that already happening?

I think it would be timely to use the GEM list for a bit of open
debate as these are such radical changes.
I'm really interested to know what worries you as well as what you see
as the opportunities for both the National Curriculum and the EngBacc.

I think the key political drivers include:
- A shift from skills to specifying what knowledge should be taught,
for each year (not just end of key stage)
- A rejection of the dimensions and competencies-based approach that
seems to be thriving in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (?)
- A wish to close the achievement gap by encouraging more students to
persist in what are deemed hard or academic subjects
- The likelihood of separating academic schools (those going for Eng
Bacc) from technical schools (with BTECs & apprenticeships leading to
an alternative league table)

I'd be really interested to know what you think, if I've identified
these drivers correctly or if I'm wrong.

If you prefer not to debate this on GEM, feel free to reply to me
offlist (with views on National Curriculum/general political changes),
and specifically about Eng Bacc to Robin.

Best wishes
Bridget McKenzie
Director, Flow Associates

Quoting Robin Clutterbuck <[log in to unmask]>:

> Dear GEM members
>
> Last week the Department for Education announced an inquiry into the English
> Baccalaureate (E-Bac).  It would be useful for GEM to respond to this at the
> outset as there could be great opportunities for cross-curricular work with
> the 14-19 age group.  If you would like to have your say you can submit your
> own comments via
> http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/e
> ducation-committee/news/new-inquiry-announced-e-bac/.  I will be sending a
> response on behalf of GEM and would welcome any comments which you feel we
> should include.  Send them to me off-list unless you think GEM members would
> value a more open discussion at this stage.  The DfE lists the following
> headings:
> - the purpose and benefits of the E-Bac and its value as a measure of pupil
> and school performance;
> - the choice of subjects included in the E-Bac;
> - the implications of the E-Bac for pupils, schools and employers;
> - international comparators for the E-Bac.
>
> The deadline for submissions is 8th March so please send any comments by 1st
> March if you want me to incorporate them in the GEM response.
>
> To emphasise the importance of this, it's worth looking at the Welsh
> Baccalaureate, which has been running since 2002.  It has a core section
> which includes a significant cultural element (within a theme called 'Wales,
> Europe and the World') which ensures that all students across the vocational
> and academic spectrum study their cultural heritage (see
> http://www.wbq.org.uk/about-us).  The Welsh Bacc is currently taken by about
> 50,000 students across Wales (70,000 from September 2011, in 240 schools and
> colleges) so the potential is huge.
>
> I'll look forward to hearing from you.
>
> Robin Clutterbuck
> GEM Trustee
>
> Reply to: [log in to unmask]
>
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