New curriculum will emphasise 'real-world skills': Gardiner

The new curriculum, with its emphasis on developing 'real-world skills', will liberate learning, Education Minister Barry Gardiner has said following this week's successful GCSE results.

Speaking to teachers at a Summer School organised by the Regional Training Unit, the Minister said that the new curriculum would enable schools to provide a more holistic curriculum and that the present high level of prescription will be removed.

"There will be statements of minimum entitlement to ensure that pupils are provided with the essentials, but the changes will provide greater flexibility for teachers and schools, using their professional judgement, to tailor provision to best meet the needs of their pupils," he said.

"I recognise that this is a radical new approach to the curriculum, and that it will be challenging. I am confident that it will also be rewarding, giving you as teachers opportunities to acquire new skills, to exercise your professional judgement and to further your professional development."

Commenting on the new post-primary arrangements, the Minister said the Entitlement Framework aims to guarantee access for all pupils at post-primary level to a much richer and varied menu of educational opportunities, including courses of a practical or applied nature.

"We want to open up choice for pupils, and parents also, in the range of school types that are available. Alongside our well-regarded grammar schools, which will continue to be able to offer a curriculum with an academic emphasis, we want to see high-quality options offered by other schools, in the form of specialist schools," he said.

The Minister also confirmed that with the help of the Regional Training Unit, the Department of Education is arranging a major conference to explore the form specialist schools should take, to meet local circumstances.

Commenting on the new admissions criteria, the Minister added: "We are committed to providing by the end of the year a consultation paper outlining the new admission arrangements that would apply after 2008, when the present transfer test would no longer operate.

"I am confident that all these developments on the new curriculum and post-primary arrangements will bring huge benefits for the young people of Northern Ireland."

(MB)