Describes a study that explores the depth and breadth of scientific facts, principles, and procedures which are required in the Advanced General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQ) science through comparison with GCE Advanced level. The final report takes account of the updated 1996 version of GNVQ science. (DDR)

Outlines the first phase of a teacher inservice program that focused on familiarizing teachers with the New Zealand science curriculum document, Science in the New Zealand Curriculum. Reports that the teachers needed much personal support to interpret the document and to plan units using the document. Discusses key issues that emerged during the…

Traces the introduction, country by country, of science and mathematics into official curricula. Discusses regional factors that fostered or impeded the movement. Observes that this development was roughly simultaneous and that it began long before the establishment of international educational and lending organizations. (DM)

The (British) National Curriculum Council emphasizes the importance of cross-phase curriculum continuity when students pass from primary to secondary learning stages. This article summarizes results of a survey examining how primary-secondary school liaisons handled one cross-curricular theme--economic and industrial understanding--across years…

Explores the tentative beginning of staff appraisals undertaken by institutions of higher education. Reports on the development of approaches to staff appraisal in two departments concerned with teacher education. (MLF)

Analyzed how British primary schools interpreted discretionary time, noting how that interpretation related to amounts of time given to different subjects within the National Curriculum. Surveys and interviews indicated that over half of the schools had 5% or less of the week available for discretionary time. Circle time and health education were…

Undertakes research into tension between structural planning and individual autonomy in the teaching of English and the dynamics of English departmental work in secondary schools. Examines the nature of constraints to individuals' autonomy, such as the British National Curriculum, to arrive at tentative conclusions as to whether they constitute a…

British students who had compulsory science in the National Curriculum from ages 11-16 (n=115) had significantly higher scores on a science test than those for whom secondary science had been optional (n=30). Almost all had very low scores on questions related to the circulatory system and sound and light, regardless of their science background.…

Explores the prior knowledge children from Key Stage 2 (7 to 11 years) at one school in England had of rock classification and how they developed a more scientific understanding using strategies shown by research to support understanding. Findings for 60 Year 5 and 6 students show the importance of providing students with a conceptual model and…

Background: Children with speech difficulties may have associated educational problems. This paper reports a study examining the educational attainment of children at Key Stage 1 of the National Curriculum who had previously been identified with a speech difficulty. Aims: (1) To examine the educational attainment at Key Stage 1 of children…

The National Literacy Strategy (NLS) was introduced into schools in England in 1998 with the aim of raising the literacy attainments of primary-aged children. The Framework for Teaching the Literacy Hour, a key component of the NLS, proposes an interpretation of literacy that emphasises reading, writing and spelling skills. An investigation of the…

This study sought to reveal teachers' personal cultural ideologies as reflected in their conceptions of the curriculum for, and in their actual teaching of, culturally valued texts. The concept "teachers' personal cultural ideologies" refers to their value orientation toward the curricular and teaching contents relating to, in this…

Reading Recovery is part of the Every Child a Reader strategy to enable children to make a good start in reading. Reading Recovery is well known to have impressive effects in the shorter term, but less is known about its long-term effectiveness. The present study followed up at the end of Year 4: 120 comparison children, 73 children who had…

This document presents 1994 results of the Assessment of Achievement Programme, established by the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department to monitor performance of pupils in Scottish schools in particular areas of the curriculum. Samples of pupils were selected to be representative of pupils in all mainstream schools, whether education…

Discusses the traditional approach to writing science textbooks, the situation preceding the National Curriculum, and the effect of the National Curriculum. Summarizes the historical content of current science textbooks including biographical narratives and human interest material, accounts of scientific discoveries, and the history and…