[Metrobeans]

B481 - Core Subjects Bill 2012, TSR Conservative And Unionist Party

Core Subjects Bill 2012

An Act implementing a new guideline for the subjects to be offered from KS1 - 4 and new routes open at KS4

BE IT ENACTED by The Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, in accordance with the provisions of the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

Part 1 - Primary School

(1) Primary school Core (compulsory) Subjects

(1) The following shall be core subjects at primary level:

English

Maths

Science

One modern foreign Language [MFL] (French, Spanish or German)

(2) Non-core foundation subject:
Design and Technology (D&T)
ICT
History
Geography
Second MFL
Art and design
Music
Physical education (PE)

Part 2 - Secondary School

(1) Secondary School Core (compulsory) Subjects:

(1) All schools teaching the Key Stage 3 curriculum must teach the following subjects as Core Subjects to all of their pupils:
English
Maths
Computing/Computer Science
Biology
Physics
Chemistry
At least one Modern Foreign Language (MFL) – schools are free to choose, but recommended are the main European languages such as French, German and Spanish, alongside growing languages such as Mandarin and Portuguese.
Physical Education, or a minimum of 2 hours physical activity per week, with supervision. The schools are free to decide which sport/ activity to teach.
History
Geography
PSHE (consisting of R.E, sex education and citizenship based topics)
At least 2 of the following: Art, DT, Music, Drama and Food Technology. Schools are of course free to choose to teach more than 2.

(2) At Key Stage 4, there are two routes available.
(a)For route 1) the following subjects are compulsory:
English Language
English Literature
Mathematics
Additional Mathematics and/or Statistics
1 MFL
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
History or Geography
(b) For route 2) the following subjects are compulsory:
English Language
Mathematics

(3) Schools are obliged to offer the academic route, but may also elect to offer the non-academic route, if they feel it worthy for certain students. In yr 9, special careers advice is to be given, to help decide which route the school, student and parents think the student should take at KS4.

(4) Some schools, i.e. practical colleges, may elect only to offer route 2). However, schools/colleges that take this option may not teach KS3 or below. They must start teaching at KS4, and may continue to teach post KS4. They must also have a link to a school offering the academic route, so that students at the end of KS3 at that school, who are advised to take route 2) may join the practical college, or perhaps even stay on, if their school offers route 2) as well.

Part 3 - Teaching

(1) New teacher training requirements

(1) Those wishing to take a Primary PGCE course must also have achieved a standard equivalent to a grade C in a MFL GCSE.

Part 4 - Commencement, short title and extent

(1) Commencement

(1) This Act may be cited as the Core subjects; primary and secondary Bill 2012

(2) Extent

(1) This bill shall extend to the United Kingdom

(3) Short Title

(1) Shall come into force immediately following Royal Assent.

Notes

Part 2 - Route 1 is aimed at those wishing to go on to university, to study for an academic degree, route 2 is designed for those with a wish to do something practical in the future, thus only the bare minimum academic subjects are compulsory, and the school should, if it chooses to offer route 2) make sure that other, more vocational courses, and practical subjects are available for the students instead.

Part 3 - To compensate for the MFLs abolition as compulsory GCSEs in 2004.

[Hopple]

Could we have a link to what's currently in place? It all seems reasonable - on a quick skim through I only really take issue with not including Mandarin etc as a possible compulsory MFL in primary school like it is in secondary school, and I still think the decision to have French and German ranked so highly is more political than practical - though I can't say if it's reasonable-er than what's currently in place.

[D.R.E]

Nay. I'm pretty sure something similar to this was attempted by the Tories before and was defeated by the House - what's the point? Fix the education system, and stop trying to paper over the gaping hole with these pointless token measures.

[barnetlad]

No music at key stage 4, no art, nothing creative. Presumably no Screaming Lord Sutch nor the works of Monty Python in History? No return to O levels as advocated in RL by Michael Gove? So we'll all be as culturally original as Simon Cowell.

Just bring in the requirement for MFLs so we can all upset the French by not being stereotypical and only speaking English when abroad.

[Smack]

No, a foreign language is a waste of time for many.

[tehFrance]

Don't like it at all. Abstain.

[Mechie]

What's KS1-4?

[tehFrance]

(Original post by Smack)
No, a foreign language is a waste of time for many.

Oh really? these people must be stupid as they don't realise what advantages knowing a second language can bring.

[barnetlad]

(Original post by tehFrance)
Oh really? these people must be stupid as they don't realise what advantages knowing a second language can bring.

As I find out every time I holiday in France.

[obi_adorno_kenobi]

(Original post by davidmarsh01)
What's KS1-4?

It relates to the National Curriculum as it is in force in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. KS1 is for those entering primary school from age 5 - 7. KS2 related to those aged 8-11; KS3 those from 11-14; KS4 (or GCSE) those 14-16; and KS5 (or A Level) those 16-18. This bill, as you rightly hint at, pays absolutely no attention to the education system as it currently exists in Scotland and once again demonstrates that the Conservatives have no respect for Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Much like their shocking budget.

Edit: Sorry, meant to add my comments. Additional maths / statistics is a waste of time and irrelevant to most people. This bill, ironically, restricts the choices people can make in their own education and for little real benefit. It is strikingly authoritarian from a party which claims to be a guardian of liberty and individual freedom. The only subjects that need be compulsory at GCSE are English, Maths and Science. Let people choose after that and let them guide their own destiny in life. Enough of a Conservative authoritarianism.

[barnetlad]

(Original post by davidmarsh01)
What's KS1-4?

Key Stage 1 is up to 7
Key Stage 2 goes up to 11
Key Stage 3 is up to 14,
And Key Stage 4 is to 16, or GCSEs.

[Mechie]

(Original post by obi_adorno_kenobi)
It relates to the National Curriculum as it is in force in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. KS1 is for those entering primary school from age 5 - 7. KS2 related to those aged 8-11; KS3 those from 11-14; KS4 (or GCSE) those 14-16; and KS5 (or A Level) those 16-18. This bill, as you rightly hint at, pays absolutely no attention to the education system as it currently exists in Scotland and once again demonstrates that the Conservatives have no respect for Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Much like their shocking budget.

Ah cool, thanks - I've heard of KS's mostly from this site, but I've never actually known what levels/ages they relate to. Without even looking at the content, this automatically makes 4(2)(1), the extent, pretty laughable.

[mevidek]

No - history should be a core subject in primary school.

[chrisawhitmore]

Not keen on removing the requirement to teach science in some form to 16. No from me as it stands.

[Smack]

(Original post by tehFrance)
Oh really? these people must be stupid as they don't realise what advantages knowing a second language can bring.

And what advantages are these?

[tehFrance]

(Original post by barnetlad)
As I find out every time I holiday in France.

Yes it helps to know French when going to France... we are Italy, we do not shamefully accept English as the language of tourism.

I have respect for the Italians at how good they are at English but I think they should not bend over and speak English instead they should force the English (and others) to speak Italian like we do

[tehFrance]

(Original post by Smack)
And what advantages are these?

Are you serious? other than learning about other cultures and being able to meet a multitude of people from around the world with the other languages you know, there are increased job prospects with better pay and if you learn from an early age, it increases intellectual growth, enriches mental development and makes you more flexible mentally.

I seriously hope you are having a laugh otherwise I question the the education system in this country even more than I ever had before or is it your social class I should question?

[jesusandtequila]

Not the role of government. No.

[Hopple]

(Original post by tehFrance)
Yes it helps to know French when going to France... we are Italy, we do not shamefully accept English as the language of tourism.

I have respect for the Italians at how good they are at English but I think they should not bend over and speak English instead they should force the English (and others) to speak Italian like we do

When I last went to Paris they quite happily spoke English. I did open with a "parley voo anglay" though.

[barnetlad]

(Original post by Hopple)
When I last went to Paris they quite happily spoke English. I did open with a "parley voo anglay" though.

You must have only gone to the main tourist sights then.