Change is on the way

14/06/10

On 7^th May 2010 we awoke to hear the news of a brand new coalition government, leaving many of us intrigued as to what changes lay ahead. Many changes have already been announced, not just in the public sector but across a range of sectors.  This week however, the news broke that Labour’s new primary curriculum is to be scrapped as part of a £359m programme of education cuts, a change of particular interest to all of us working in the education sector.

The new primary curriculum which was due to start in September next year, would have split primary teaching into six new areas of learning, with information and communication technology (ICT) a core skill.  The idea was to offer these six broad areas of learning in order to help schools and children make coherent links across all their learning.

 Whilst the axing of the new primary curriculum may have been hinted at before the general election, many educators were remaining positive and as a result the recent news is likely to have come as a disappointment.  Many teachers are likely to have already begun investing their time getting to grips with what was believed to be on the horizon, by researching and preparing new classroom materials.  Undoubtedly, many educational suppliers may also feel disappointed by the news, and the consequence of having to refine their resources to keep in line with new developments.  Amid a difficult financial climate, this can be tough.

Of course, it is important to remember that despite this, money is the reason for the changes, with the new government attempting to rein in spending.  Consequently there may also be many people that are keen to welcome the news.

Whatever your opinion may be, the scrapping of the new primary curriculum certainly offers food for thought and reminds us that with the new government, more changes may be on the way.