Cymraeg

From September 2015, revised Foundation Phase Areas of Learning and revised programmes of study at Key Stages 2 to 4 are statutory for all learners in maintained schools and funded non-maintained settings.

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The new curriculum requirements raise the level of expectations for what learners should know and be able to do across all age groups, better preparing them for the skills required for the working world and in the revised GCSEs, which also commence teaching in September.

Foundation Phase

The revised Areas of Learning for the Foundation Phase are:

  • Language, Literacy and Communication Skills
  • Mathematical Development.

For the purpose of assessment the Foundation Phase outcomes have been recalibrated to align with the increased expectations of the revised Areas of Learning. However, children won’t be expected to be formally assessed against the recalibrated outcomes at the end of the phase until the summer of 2018. Until then, the present accountability arrangements apply.

This will be supported by the statutory introduction of the Foundation Phase Profile (Profile), an observation-based assessment tool which supports summative assessment of children throughout the Foundation Phase, from September 2015.

The Profile will be used to carry out a statutory baseline assessment during the first six weeks of the child’s Reception year, or Year 1 if the child doesn’t enter reception.

Further information on the Foundation Phase.

Key Stages 2 to 4

The revised programmes of study for Key Stages 2 to 4 are:

  • English
  • Welsh (first language)
  • Mathematics.

For Key Stages 2 and 3, to minimise disruption, the existing system of using end of Key Stage teacher assessments, based on the existing levels descriptions, has been retained. However, guidance will be provided to schools that they should ensure their expectations for learners are more in keeping with the increased expectations within the LNF and the revised programmes of study.

This increased expectation will be measured to inform school categorisation and the corresponding indicators for the first time in the summer of 2018. Until then, the present accountability arrangements apply.

Further information on the revised programmes of study and assessment arrangements.

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