Teaching and Learning

National Curriculum: the statutory framework for teaching and learning in England in primary and secondary schools. This makes up only one part of teaching and learning in schools. From April 2012 Teaching and Learning in England will be overseen by the Teaching Agency. For this coming academic year the QCDA (Qualifications Curriculum and Development Authority) will still be responsible for curriculum and qualification development.

Wider School Curriculum: This is integral to Teaching and Learning in primary and secondary schools and includes cross curricular learning and Learning Outside the Classroom. Many young people learn about built environment education as part of the wider curriculum.

Key Stages: Children and young people move through key stages from primary until the end of secondary schools, starting with Key Stage 1 and ending with Key Stage 4 for compulsory education and Key Stage 5 if they study at post 16.

How is attainment measured?

In each subject, students progress from Level 1 to Level 8 through the different key stages.

Young people will be working towards a Level in all subjects of the National Curriculum. These are stage specific, but learners can be working above or below the average for their peers, so that they start at Level 1 and progress to Level 8.

Level descriptors are prescribed for each subject, so that the teacher can plan learning to meet the needs of all learners. These descriptors form the statutory assessment of young people’s learning as they progress through primary and secondary education.

Education reform in England (2011 – 2014)

Education reform will see:

• A Review of the National Curriculum.
• A revised curriculum introduced in primary and secondary education, with a reduction in time for the National Curriculum and an increase for the wider curriculum.
• A Review of cultural education for young people aged 5 - 19.

The government funded an initiative, “Inspiring Learning for All”, developed by the Museums Learning Authority in 2009.

• Understanding of why particular materials are used for different parts of a building.
• Critical evaluation skills, team-working skills etc.
• Understanding the impact each person’s actions have on the environment & acting on this.
• Being inspired by exemplary architectural design.