Primary schools review highlights traditional approach

Sir Jim Rose told delegates at a Westminster Education Forum seminar on Tuesday 3 June that his findings so far showed the curriculum in some schools was mainly subject-based.

He said some schools preferred to keep to the traditional timetable of English and maths in the morning and other subjects in the afternoon.

Rose, who leads the independent review of the primary curriculum launched as part of The Children's Plan, added during the research he had not found any schools that taught entirely on a themed basis - where a certain topic is integrated into all subjects.

He told delegates: "What I think we need to do is look carefully at knowledge, skills and understanding in regards to how subject content is defined."

He said the findings so far show there is an appreciation of subject disciplines in schools and that they play an important role.

Rose also told the conference that Key Stage One is historically where children learn to read and read to learn. He said it was important to help children develop mentally, learn to communicate in different ways and use what they learn to take them forward.

But he said the primary curriculum should not be seen as just coming after the Early Years Foundation Stage or before the secondary curriculum: "What we do know is that the quality of prior learning is key to present and future learning.

"I hope what we will do with the review is outline the crucial importance of securing curriculum progression through all stages."

The review started in January this year and an interim report is due to be published in October. The final report is due in March 2009 before a consultation in 2010 and implementation in 2011.