Conference puts national curriculum in the spotlight

02/10/2012 12:00:00

Teachers from more than 300 Hampshire schools attended a special conference organised by Hampshire County Council to examine developments to the national curriculum.

Keynote speaker at the conference was Tim Oates, chair of the Expert Panel advising the Government on the national curriculum review. Also addressing the delegates was John Clarke, Hampshire County Council's Deputy Director of Children's Services.

As well as examining potential developments to the national curriculum four strategies already being used in Hampshire schools to support pupils' learning were highlighted:

1. ‘Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategy’ (PATHS) project - this is currently taking place in Aldershot and East Hants and is being led by the County Council's Educational Psychology Service. It supports children to improve their personal, social and emotional skills during early years education.

2. New guidance on the completion and use of Personal Education Plans (PEPs) for all the looked after children in Hampshire has been published by the Local Authority and schools are being challenged to establish the very highest levels of education and support for some of the most vulnerable children in Hampshire.

3. The Hampshire Hundreds project - this involves more than 50 Hampshire schools and is supported by the Education Endowment Fund and funded by the Department for Education. After a smaller scale project a Teacher toolkit resource has been made available for all schools providing classroom based resources and teaching strategies to meet the learning needs of disadvantaged pupils.

4. Partnership working with the Centre for Real-World Learning (CRL) at the University of Winchester. CRL has established a network of education professionals who are committed to the idea that 21st century education must be about expanding young people's capacity to deal with real-world complexity and uncertainty and want to explore ways in which this vision can be turned into a practical reality.

Commenting on the conference Councillor Peter Edgar, Assistant Executive Member for Education, who was among the delegates, said:

"This was a truly inspirational conference and a fine example of how Hampshire County Council takes the lead in keeping schools informed on new developments and new trends in educational thinking ensuring they can continue to deliver education of the highest quality to the children of Hampshire."

ENDS

Picture caption L-R Councillor Peter Edgar, Hampshire County Council's assistant member for education, Tim Oates and John Clarke, Hampshire County Council's Deputy Director of Children's Services at the successful curriculum conference organised by Hampshire County Council

For media enquiries please contact: Claire Sheret, Senior Press Officer Tel: 01962 847368 Email: claire.sheret@hants.gov.uk

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