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Curriculum and assessment

 
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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. 

National reference test 2020 - information for secondary schools

Ofqual's Chief Regulator is writing to all of the schools selected to participate in the 2020 National Reference Test (NRT), which will take place between 24 February and 6 March 2020.

This letter provides further details on the NRT and also contains an introduction to the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) who will be conducting the test on Ofqual's behalf. Heads of Centre are kindly requested to provide details for a nominated member of staff to liaise with the NFER as promptly as possible.

For more information about the test, please visit the National Reference Test document collection.

All state schools are required to participate in the NRT, with the exception of small schools or special schools who are excluded from the sample. The head teacher of a designated school must arrange for those pupils selected by the test supplier to take a national reference test. For maintained schools, the requirement is part of Key Stage 4 assessment arrangements. For academies and free schools, it is a requirement of the school funding agreement.

This does not represent a change in the rules around the NRT. Rather, Ofqual has previously said that the legislation applies to 'most' academies so as to be able to direct schools to the relevant clause in their funding agreement where the specific wording may vary. However, Ofqual recognises that 'most' is not helpful as it suggests some doubt as to whether an individual school is or is not required to take part. Therefore from 2020 onwards published guidance will clarify that all maintained, academy and free schools are, if selected, required to take part.

First published 13 September 2019

First published 13 September 2019