Curriculum Matters in Primary Education
Task (100%): Research, design, and critically evaluate a curriculum model for a primary school based on the current National Curriculum or EYFS framework (4,000 words)
In this section you need to critically analyse historical and current conceptualisation of curriculum.
You need to look at historical and current theories and debates about curriculum. Within this, you need to discuss, theoretical, social and political influences. You will also need to imbed some critique of policy (Ofsted’s working definition of curriculum, notion of an ‘ambitious curriculum’ etc.).
In this section you need to discuss historical and current arguments about the purpose of education.
You need to discuss how popular notions of education as a progressive force continue to be advanced in official and popular discourse, presenting education as performing numerous positive functions for:
1. the individual
2. The economy,
3. Society (Simmons and Smyth, 2018).
Many have benefited socially, culturally and economically from education. You need to consider historical shifts over time: what has the purpose of education been and why? What political, economic and/or social influences have shaped changes in education and the curriculum (see Simmons and Smyth, 2018, pp. 234-235).
In this section, you need to show an understanding of historical and current policy on the National Curriculum or EYFS. You need to consider theoretical, social, and political influences.
You also need to show an understanding of the statutory curriculum (NC or EYFS) e.g. Ofsted’s drive to construct an ‘ambitious’ curriculum (see Parker & Leat, 2021)
