Campaigns: For a Broad and Balanced Curriculum

Campaign for a broad and balanced curriculum to meet the needs of every child. 

The Local Schools Network believe that every child should learn a broad range of subjects in primary and secondary school, with access to the sciences, humanities, arts and practical learning.  Children need time to discover where their true talents and interests lie – yet our schools too frequently push them down either the academic or vocational route too early. 

Earlier this year Michael Gove introduced the English baccalaureate, a new measure of educational achievement.  The minister acted too hastily.   Not only does his own prescriptive list exclude many valuable subjects such as music, art and religious education but heads – and pupils – are now under a fresh bout of league table pressure that does nothing to improve the range and quality of subjects taught in our schools. 

The Local Schools Network would would like to see a broader, more flexible approach taken to the curriculum, with every child encouraged to assemble a suite of subjects, and qualifications,  over the course of their school life, tailored to their skills and interests, but with the appropriate balance of academic, artistic, vocational and civic elements.