New curriculum proposals come under fire in Wales

A consultation carried out by the Welsh Assembly’s Children, Young People and Education Committee found that the new proposals were “too vague” and that the extent of the changes might “distract (teachers) from focusing on what matters – teaching children”.

Under the “Successful Futures” curriculum, which has been developed by Professor Graham Donaldson, all traditional subjects are to be scrapped from 2022 and replaced by six “areas of learning and experience”.

But, in a joint response to the consultation, the Association of Directors of Education in Wales and the Welsh Local Government Association have said that the new areas of learning and experience are too vague. Too many statements are generic, poorly defined and weak on knowledge and skills development,” they stated. “As a result, it is likely that pupils’ knowledge, understanding and skills development will be left to chance, i.e. relying heavily on the knowledge and experience of individual teachers as opposed to an entitlement defined by the curriculum.”