Curriculum K-12 Directorate

October 2010

Why an Australian Curriculum?

The NSW context

Shape of the Australian Curriculum

Challenges and opportunities for school implementation

Consider:

1. Why is the Australian Curriculum being developed?

2. What might the following groups want from the curriculum?

◦ Students and parents

◦ Industry and business

◦ Educators

The Australian Curriculum: Recognises the entitlement of all students

to a core of knowledge, understanding and skills that provide a foundation for future learning, growth and participation in society.

Acknowledges that students learn in different ways and at different rates and that the needs and interests of students will vary.

The Melbourne Declaration guides the development of the Australian Curriculum.

In the declaration Australian governments committed to support all young Australians to become:

successful learners confident and creative

individuals active and informed citizens.

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) has been set up for this purpose and is based in Sydney.

ACARA is responsible for ◦a national curriculum (K-12)◦a national assessment program◦national data collection and reporting

The Education Act 1990 The Education Act 1990 is the legislative framework for education in NSW.

NSW Board of Studies NSW Board of Studies coordinates, across all sectors, the NSW response to the Australian Curriculum for the NSW Minister.

Curriculum K-12 Directorate Curriculum K-12 Directorate coordinates feedback across DET schools, regions and state office and provides advice to DG.

The Minister Minister will determine the suitability of the Australian Curriculum for NSW and set timelines for implementation.

Sets out the nationally agreed curriculum, including what all students are to be taught (content) and the quality of learning expected by years or bands of schooling (achievement standards) in all Australian schools.

Comprised of:◦ 8 learning areas◦General capabilities that are integrated across learning

areas◦ 3 cross curriculum priorities

The Curriculum is being developed in 3 phases.

Learning area Phase of development

English 1

Mathematics 1

Science 1

Humanities and social sciences•History•Geography•Economics, Business 5-8•Civics and citizenship 3-8

1233

The Arts 2

Languages 2

Health PE 3

Technologies 3

Consultation on draft closed May 2010 Key NSW issues:◦ Time allocations and balance of the whole curriculum◦ Lack of conceptual frameworks◦Content overload◦ Integration of general capabilities and priorities◦Quality of content descriptions◦Achievement standards◦Meeting needs of every student

Work is continuing at ACARA and curriculum may be finalised later in 2010

Consultation on draft closed July 2010 Released without achievement standards Key issues:◦Clarity about purposes of schooling in Years 11-12◦Relationship of courses ◦ Timetabling issues◦ Lack of conceptual frameworks◦Content overload◦ Terminology◦ Integration of general capabilities and priorities◦Meeting needs of every student

Due for further consultation in 2011

Stage of development

Geography The Arts Languages

Curriculum Shaping

July 2009-June 2010

Aug 2009 – September 2010

2009-2010

Consultation June-August 2010

Oct-Dec 2010 Late 2010

Curriculum development

October 2010 – February 2011

Dec 2010 - March 2011

TBA

Consultation March-May 2011 May – July 2011 TBA

Publication September 2011 November 2011 TBA

Agreement was reached at the MCEECDYA April meeting on phase 3 learning areas and the timetable for development. 

More information about phase 3 Australian Curriculum development yet to be released

Encourage your staff to participate in:

◦ACARA consultation processes

www.acara.edu.au

◦NSW DET consultation processes http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/home/national.htm

◦Board of Studies NSW consultation processes www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/

Official Notice - BOS 18/10 14 May 2010

Board advised that all schools in NSW are to continue to use the existing NSW K–12 syllabuses for 2011

Year Actions

2010 • Participate in consultation for Shape papers for The Arts and Languages

• Proposed release of K-10 phase 1 curriculum

2011 • Use existing NSW Board syllabuses in all NSW schools• Participate in ACARA consultation for phases 2 and 3• Semester 2 plan for school professional learning and

implementation processes for K-10 phase 1 curriculum

2012 • Professional learning and school implementation processes of K-10 phase 1 curriculum

• Participate in ongoing ACARA consultation for phases 2 and 3

2013 • Substantial Implementation of phase 1 K-10 Australian Curriculum