Secondary National Strategy
Since its inception in 2000, the Key Stage 3 (KS3) Strategy has had a positive impact in many schools, with improvements in standards in the core subjects of English, mathematics, science and ICT. Teachers welcomed the opportunities for the professional development it provided, and it helped to improve the quality of provision by promoting a range of teaching approaches and raising expectations of pupils.
The National Strategy, secondary has built on the successes of the KS3 Strategy, as the work has been extended across the 11 to 16 age range. The National Strategy, secondary is designed to help teachers give careful attention to pupils’ individual learning needs, set challenging targets linked to high-quality assessment, and offer tools to teachers to make their lessons pacy, challenging and enjoyable.
The National Strategy’s renewed secondary frameworks for the core subjects provide guidance and tools to teachers to support effective planning, teaching and assessment in the core subjects through KS3. The first part of these renewed frameworks will be available from May 2008 with subsequent additions in the summer and autumn terms 2008.
The National Strategies also support the reforms of the 14 – 19 curriculum through a comprehensive training programme for Local Authorities and schools in the delivery of Functional skills. Functional Skills qualifications will be a mandatory element in the new diplomas from 2008 and GCSE English and Mathematics teaching from 2010.
You can see Secondary National Strategy work in action by visiting the National Strategies area of the Standards Site at:
http://www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/nationalstrategies
Functional Skills
A programme which addresses the need to develop a more highly skilled workforce and aims to make sure that every young person achieves well in English, mathematics and ICT to equip them for live, work and further study. The Secondary National Strategy is working in partnership with the Quality Improvement Agency to equip practitioners in a range of settings to be fully confident and competent in the teaching of functional skills and to promote excellence in teaching and learning through the development and dissemination of high quality resources