Between 1937 and 1952 three differing philosophies for the reform of NSW schooling found expression in three successive ministers for education. David Drummond, the Country Party minister during the Great Depression, wanted to extend the well-established democratic principle of equality of opportunity and the formation of character. He emphasised…

With the first teaching of a revised history curriculum due in September 2008 the debate over content and order is well under way. Robert Guyver, involved in the design of the curriculum development experiment that evolved into the 1991 version of national curriculum history, witnessed the debates about all of the key stages in that crucial year.…

This article proposes a conceptual framework to examine the development of the teacher education system in contemporary China. Within the framework, three development periods, including the era of shifan, and the era of post-shifan, the era of professional teacher education, are investigated in terms of governance, institutional structures, and…

Reports on the questionnaire results of National Association for Pastoral Care in Education (NAPCE). Five hypotheses are generated concerning likely effects of the 1988 Education Reform Act, National Curriculum, and other educational developments. Impact on pastoral care and personal and social education after a decade of educational-policy change…

Analyzes two initiatives in Australian education that have attempted to influence the future directions of high school chemistry curricula: the concept of a national curriculum encompassing eight key learning areas and the reform processes of individual state governments. Presents a radically different syllabus produced by the State of Victoria as…

Presents personal experiences after receiving under performance criticism at key stage 3. Recommends considering content changes due to changes in the National Curriculum. Discusses ways of making change in the content and applying the new curriculum to education. (YDS)

In September 2000, new qualifications for 16-19 year olds, known as "Curriculum 2000", were introduced in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland with the aim of broadening the advanced level curriculum. It was left to schools, colleges, and their learners, however, to decide how these new qualifications would be used to build learner…

Background: In this article we address some of the challenges posed by the development of national assessment systems and discuss the need for high quality information on trends in attainment; support for school improvement processes and ways in which learning should be enhanced through valid assessment. Purpose: Key elements are explored,…

The National Science Education Standards present a vision of a scientifically literate populace. The standards outline what students need to know, understand, and be able to do to be scientifically literate at different grade levels. They describe an educational system in which all students demonstrate high levels of performance, teachers are…

Describes a series of 1991-94 events observed in an English primary school that are typical examples of school response to an externally imposed innovation--assessment of pupils against the progressive learning scale in the national curriculum. Focused reflective practice, through reference to change events and types of teacher response, enhances…

Suggests that further changes to the science curriculum should take place and argues that strategies for change must recruit the energies and talents of teachers if they are to be effective. (JRH)

Suggests science taught at Key Stage 3 (ages 11-14) has changed little over the past two decades despite introduction of National Curriculum reforms. Notes high stakes testing at the end of Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11) has resulted in less experimentation in Year 6. Examines structural factors responsible for the current situation. (BT)

Explores the reasons why science should be taught to all school students and what the science curriculum should look like. Discusses three aspects of an understanding of science: understanding of science content, understanding of the methods of inquiry used in science, and understanding of science as a social enterprise. (JRH)

An attitude questionnaire completed by 60 British teachers of English and a media education survey completed by 20 of them indicated they do not agree that the national curriculum should be revised by returning to narrow prescriptions and dropping media education. Teachers support a broad-based approach including personal response and critical…

The early 1970s approach to curriculum reform in Hungary under Communism resulted in textbook uniformity (i.e., censorship). Since the mid-1980s, the drive toward a national core curriculum is being opposed by those who are against compulsory subjects, those who want an examination system, and those who want a more conservative approach. (SK)