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Curriculum, assessment and qualifications

NAHT is working to ensure that the curriculum supports the learning, progress and success of all pupils. NAHT supports the principle that a broad and balanced curriculum promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and prepares pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

NAHT is campaigning to:

Support schools to provide a broad and balanced curriculum for their pupils

Challenge the government policy, including EBacc, which may narrow the curriculum
Enable and support schools to successfully deliver statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education
Lobby for improvements to government policy which supports schools to deliver inclusive education and fulfil their responsibilities under the public sector equality duty
Support schools to deliver effective careers education for all pupils
Support schools to deliver high-quality Religious Education to all pupils
Provide guidance, materials and information to support schools in educating pupils about environmental issues.

Ensure a valid and proportionate approach to statutory assessment in primary schools

Lobby the government to reconsider the introduction of the multiplication tables check
Lobby the government to ensure changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage and Early Learning Goals are appropriate and relevant for the early years sector
Influence the development and implementation of the reception baseline assessment
Support members to implement the new statutory assessment for pupils with SEND
Identify and challenge the STA over any impact on members of the contract change to deliver statutory assessment in the primary phase
Engage with the STA to influence changes and improvements to statutory assessment including moderation and maladministration
Campaign for KS2 SPAG to be made non-statutory and oppose any additional statutory testing in the primary phase

Ensure the KS4 and KS5 qualification framework and examination system is fit for purpose

Press the government, Ofqual and exam boards to ensure that reformed qualifications, both academic and vocational, meet the needs of all pupils and schools
Explore the issue of grade reliability, identifying solutions and improvements which are supported by members and pressing the government and Ofqual for appropriate action
Inform members of the latest developments in secondary assessment through engagement with Ofqual, JCQ and awarding organisations.

DfE issues careers guidance and access for education and training providers

Updated guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) for schools and colleges on careers education and guidance has been issued.

For the first time, it is now a single document for all secondary schools and colleges. You can read the full document here: Careers guidance and access for education and training providers.

The guidance is of relevance to:

governing bodies
school and college leaders
career leaders and staff in maintained schools
academies
free schools (including alternative provision academies and free schools)
colleges (that provide secondary education and post-16 education)
local authorities that maintain pupil referral units

Statutory guidance is issued by law, schools must follow it unless there is a good reason not to.

It applies to:

all students in school from year 8 to year 13
all students in college up to and including the age of 18
students aged up to 25 with a current education, health and care plan in place

The guidance is part of the Skills for Jobs White Paper, which contains the government’s vision to transform skills and training.

The Careers and Enterprise Company will provide external support to schools and colleges.

School leaders should note that there has been no change to careers legislation.

Within the guidance document it states:

"The associated duties and equivalent requirements in funding agreements continue to rest with schools and colleges.

"The department asks all maintained schools and academies to pay particular attention to their legal requirements under the provider access duty, commonly known as the ‘Baker Clause’, and make sure they have put in place arrangements to comply fully with this law.

"Schools must provide opportunities for a range of education and training providers to access all year 8 to 13 pupils to inform them about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships. Ofsted’s School Inspection Handbook has been updated to highlight the importance of schools understanding and meeting the requirements of this legislation, as careers information, education, advice and guidance is one of the key areas that informs inspectors’ overall judgements on personal development."

First published 19 July 2021

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