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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.

Three steps to RSHE success: plan your relationships, sex and health education curriculum

It is now a statutory requirement for schools in England to teach Relationships/Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education — sometimes abbreviated as ‘RSHE’.

PSHE education is the school curriculum subject through which RSHE content is delivered in the vast majority of schools. Teaching RSHE within this context is effective because of the overlap and connections between health, relationships, economic wellbeing and thriving in life and work.

Mental health, physical health and maintaining healthy relationships (including at home and online) are key issues of concern, particularly following the pandemic. So it has never been more important to prioritise effective PSHE education, and regular curriculum time. This applies both to ensuring safe, effective remote teaching and choice of resources as well as supporting pupils’ well-being and recovery when they return to the classroom.

The pandemic has also created extremely difficult circumstances for schools and challenges in preparing for statutory RSHE. Recognising this, ASCL, AYPH, NAHT, NEU, PHE, the PSHE Association and the Sex Education Forum have worked together to bring you Three steps to RSHE success, which contains practical advice on three key steps to successfully implementing the statutory changes:

Consulting with parents and pupils, and developing policy
What to teach and how to teach it
Sustaining success.

You can access Three steps to RSHE success here.

Another source of support is RSHE Ready, a series of podcasts exploring different aspects of RSHE implementation, which provides guidance and tips from voices from across the sector to help you plan for RSHE success.

First published 01 April 2021

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