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Education system 'deficient'
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Children's lives are being impoverished by an education that is "fundamentally deficient", a major inquiry has concluded.
It argues their entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum has been eroded by a fixation on standards in the basics of literacy and numeracy.
Other subjects, such as history, geography, the arts and even science have been "squeezed out".
The report says while there is a need for a national curriculum, in its current form it is seen as "overcrowded, unmanageable and in certain respects inappropriately conceived."
The interim report on the primary curriculum is part of the Cambridge University-based Primary Review - the biggest inquiry in primary education for 40 years.
Professor Robin Alexander, director of the Cambridge Primary Review said: "Our argument is that their (children's) education, and to some degree their lives, are impoverished if they have received an education that is so fundamentally deficient."
The report found the curriculum is now subject to "excessive prescription and micro-management" from the Government, and Government agencies. And it also addresses the issue of testing in schools, which it calls "the elephant in the curriculum", noting that in Year 6 especially, the final year of primary school, "breadth competes with the much narrower scope of what is to be tested."
It concludes: "The problem of the curriculum is inseparable from the problem of assessment and testing. Unless the national assessment system is reformed, especially at Key Stage 2, changes to the curriculum will have limited impact and the curriculum outside the favoured zone of tested subjects will continue to be compromised."
Christine Blower, acting general secretary of the National Union of Teachers said: "It is a matter of real concern that the Government is keeping Robin Alexander's review at arm's length. His proposals for the primary curriculum have depth, credibility and, above all, respond to the realities of the primary classroom."
A DCSF spokeswoman said: "To say our children are receiving a deficient education is insulting to hard working pupils and teachers everywhere and flies in the face of international evidence."
Reader views (7)
I would not race in to totally blame Labour and Tony Blair. Margaret Thatcher started the dumbing down process of universities and John Major the setting of targets. These two factors are I believe the main cause of dumbing down. To stunned I would say many 'soft' degree graduates I have come across still lack the basics!
- Michael, London, 20/02/2009 16:50
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Lowering the Exam standards to accomodate the less intelligent, has now gone full circle,well done to the brains of Britain who orchestrated this one.
- David,Chertsey, Chertsey.UK., 20/02/2009 14:50
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NO !!!! Surely not !!!
- Marianne, SW France, 20/02/2009 13:00
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Education, education, education ......So much for Blair's mantra! I would go for State boarding schools where the pupils don't get too many exeats and are made to work in a conducive environment.
- William, London, 20/02/2009 12:45
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I work in the university sector and see no evidence of incoming students being anywhere near proficient in either maths or English. Many are innumerate as well as not being able to write a coherent sentence. The emphasis on such 'soft' subjects as 'Citizenship' etc is dumbing down a whole generation. Oh, for a student who can 'do sums' and write a few lines cogently!
- Stunned, Manchester, UK, 20/02/2009 11:43
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Further evidence of Blair's legacy.
- Peter Haldane, London, 20/02/2009 10:42
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What exactly do they do all day in primary schools? The report suggests that there is a fixation on the 3Rs yet far too many children seem to be struggling with these. When I was at primary school nearly 40 years ago we all came out with a good grounding in the three Rs. In fact I would say we were of a higher standard having covered areas now left till senior school. In addition our teachers, who had no assistants and covered lunch and playtimes, spent time on other areas. We came out with a general knowledge of geography (quite detailed for Canada, India and Australia), history of the middle ages (sadly nothing on the lead up and causes of WWI and WWII), basic French, etc. Also I get the impression that many modern parents spend little time educating their children and sit them in front of PCs rather than reading with them!
- Michael, London, 20/02/2009 09:37
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