States there are good reasons to believe that teachers' views about the nature of science can form part of the hidden curriculum in their science teaching. Explores views captured using case study and survey methodologies. Finds case studies showed depth and subtlety of some teachers' views of science and interviews were consistent with survey…

The International Review of Curriculum and Assessment Frameworks in 18 countries identified trends related to participation and engagement: responsiveness, inclusion, and curricular differentiation; key skills; and creativity development and citizenship education. Common economic and social pressures are leading to some convergence among nations.…

Quantitative and qualitative data were used to examine changes in the business studies curriculum in British secondary schools. Changes resulted from the rhetoric of the "new vocationalism"--to prepare flexible workers and entrepreneurs for the future. Although progressivists want to use the curriculum to deliver messages about the role…

Fifty-three student teachers completed a questionnaire about their self-perceived competence to teach Britain's National Curriculum to 11 year olds. Diary entries and interview data show that self-rated competence increased over a year's training course; changes were statistically significant for each subject. (SK)

Examines the impact of the national curriculum on secondary school science teachers' work in England and Wales. Finds that, in a significant number of schools, less time is spent on practical activities in the laboratory and students are presented with a narrower range of laboratory activities. Concludes that many teachers judge the national…

Discusses recent changes in mathematics education and assessment in England and Wales against the background of research on mathematics performance and assessment. Reports findings from qualitative research with 10- to 11-year olds undertaken with the object of exploring the validity of the pilot pencil-and-paper tests in mathematics. Contains 49…

Reviews the problems of concept development and progression within ecology teaching and discusses these issues with particular reference to the school science curriculum of England and Wales. Contains 21 references. (DDR)

A study of schools in two English local education authorities found that time spent teaching Shakespeare increases in Year 9 now that the National Curriculum mandates testing on Shakespeare. However, restrictions on the choice of plays is limiting teaching methods and diminishing student learning and enjoyment of the subject. (SK)

Presents an overview of the New Zealand national education system founded on the premise that the individual student is the center of all learning and teaching. Includes a brief discussion of educators' beliefs about children's learning, examines principles that guide assessment and how they translate into practice, and discusses issues of…

The question is raised whether response-based practices in literature study ? as in other areas of aesthetic learning ? are conceptually incompatible with the practice of demonstrating the attainment of preselected outcomes. The individual reader brings unique experiences, memories, reading background and associations to the reading of…

In this article we report on part of a small-scale study into the experiences of 28 British-born Asian and black, and overseas student teachers, who were following both Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and school-based routes to qualified teacher status (QTS), in Sussex and Kent. The results indicate worrying degrees of racism,…

This article contrasts two major attempts at educational reform with regard to literacy. Starting with a brief background to the introduction of the National Literacy Strategy, together with an analysis of research into effective literacy teaching, it presents qualitative research carried out in the form of a comparative study of the National…

Service Children's Education (SCE) is an agency of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) that is dedicated to the education of children of service families and MOD personnel serving outside of the United Kingdom, specifically in Belgium, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Falkland Islands, Belize and Brunei. These schools follow the…

A study of secondary teachers before and after introduction or the Northern Ireland Curriculum (1989-1995) found some improved continuity between primary and secondary science. However, few teachers had taken account of children's earlier experiences in planning secondary science programs. (SK)

A British study of the experiences of bilingual students and monolingual English speakers looked at issues related to awareness of language variation and language learning strategies. It was concluded that the National Curriculum has serious limitations regarding equal opportunities and quality of education for bilingual students. (SK)