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EDUCATION

The National Curriculum

The National Curriculum (NC) was introduced from 1989 and for most subjects was established by the early 1990s. All state maintained schools in England are required to teach to the NC for all students between the ages of 5 and 16, i.e. approaching 8 million students. The NC is also largely followed by most schools in the much smaller non-state sector.

The NC comprises Programmes of Study (PoS), which have statutory status published by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) , Teachers either individually, at department or school level, interpret the NC through schemes of work. In order to aid consistency and establish standards, the Government Agency, the Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA) has also published Schemes of Work (SoW). The SoWs interpret the formal NC statements for practical teaching purposes and are the documents most commonly used in planning and delivering lessons.

Certain subjects have been designated 'core subjects'; others are still part of the NC, but are not core subjects.

The National Curriculum (England and Wales) Core Subjects (everyone 5-16)

English
Science
Mathematics

National Curriculum non-core Foundation Subjects (mandatory/optional at different stages)

History
Geography
ICT */**
Art
Design and Technology **
Music
Physical Education **
Citizenship **
Modern Foreign Languages **

*Information and Communications Technology
** The non-core subjects vary in some key stages: these apply at KS4. Schools may apply to withdraw specific pupils for certain subjects at KS4
In addition all maintained schools legally have to provide religious education.

General Approach and Priorities
Whereas English and mathematics are subjects in their own right, they are also to be delivered across the curriculum. In the case of ICT, the bulk of the learning is experienced through its application in teaching other subjects. The overarching nature of these three areas means that they also have general relevance in educational initiatives concerning quarries. In similar vein, quarries may also offer numerous opportunities in teaching art, design/technology, citizenship and history. Another aspect which has to be taught in schools is that of Personal and Social Health Education (PSHE) also has some relevance, particularly in the field of personal safety.