National Network for Curriculum Implementation

Developing progression and supporting curriculum planning and design: May 2023

The conversation focused on:

• how schools may use progression steps to develop ideas of learner progression
• what schools and organisations can do to provide reassurance to parents, and wider stakeholders, that learners are progressing

This was done through:

• examining current experience and practice in schools and organisations
• collaboratively developing possible ways forward
• practically considering how these could be made part of practice

Conversation resources

To access a recording of the conversation and the resources please register (eventbocs.wales).

Developing progression and supporting curriculum planning and design: January 2023

The conversation focused on:

• how schools may use progression steps to develop ideas of learner progression
• what schools and organisations can do to provide reassurance to parents, and wider stakeholders, that learners are progressing

This was done through:

• examining current experience and practice in schools and organisations
• collaboratively developing possible ways forward
• practically considering how these could be made part of practice

Conversation resources

To access a recording of the conversation and the resources please register (eventbocs.wales).

Turning thinking into practice, curriculum planning for progression: October 2022

The conversation was held to support practitioners to:

• critically appraise their current approaches to progression
• prompt new ways of thinking
• explore how thinking and using evidence can support your practice

This conversation introduced themes, ideas, and approaches to progression.

This session focused on:

• developing understanding of progression within the Curriculum for Wales
• building practitioners’ confidence in using the principles of progression, statements of what matters, progressions steps, and the purposes of assessment together in their curriculum planning and classroom practice

Conversation resources

To access the resources for this National Conversation please register (eventbocs.wales).

Progression and assessment: May 2022

In this conversation, participants from across Wales shared their understanding of progression and how this can be effectively assessed.

The participants:

• shared understanding of where colleagues in all contexts are in their thinking and development work related to progression and assessment
• considered how the principles of progression can be used to support curriculum planning,
• considered how learner progression along the curriculum continuum can be planned
• shared information on how assessment practice is being developed to support learner progression across the curriculum
• consider contextual factors which may impact on understanding and planning progression
• develop understanding of effective approaches to co-construction within and across schools or settings.

Conversation resources

Facilitators' slide pack: progression and assessment (summer 2022)

Further resources

• Article: IEAN: Rethinking Learner Progression for the Future
• Paper: The Curriculum for Wales: Progression Code

Video: New Welsh Curriculum: Professor Robin Banerjee talks about progression

Progression: October 2021

In this conversation, practitioners can discuss the challenges, and opportunities, in designing a curriculum with learning progression at the heart. Supported by expert input and other materials, practitioners can tackle key questions including:

• What is your understanding of progression in Curriculum for Wales?
• What’s different to how we have previously approached this?
• Where are you now in terms of developing progression in the new curriculum?
• What’s helpful in thinking about this, and what is not?
• Moving forward: what support might you need to increase your understanding and application of progression in the new curriculum?

Video resources for National Network Conversation: progression, autumn 2021

Brief introduction to the National Network from Lloyd Hopkin, Head of Curriculum Reform.

Professor Louise Hayward, challenges and opportunities in developing progression in the Curriculum for Wales in the pandemic context.

Perspectives from practitioners on approaching progression in their curriculum.

These examples provide a range of views and approaches. They encourage attendees to think about their own approaches.

Conversation resources

To access the resources for this National Conversation please register (eventbocs.wales).

Curriculum and assessment design: June 2023

This National Conversation provided an opportunity to:

• share ideas on the type of curriculum conversations that are supporting effective curriculum and assessment design
• evaluate how schools and settings are developing the culture and environment conducive to effective curriculum and assessment design
• signpost to resources that can support leading curriculum conversations in your schools and settings that enable learner progression

Reflection on the curriculum and assessment design National Network conversation in spring 2023 is available:

• National Network Conversation: curriculum and assessment design summer 2023

Conversation resources

To access the resources for this National Conversation please register (eventbocs.wales).

Curriculum and assessment design: March 2023

This National Conversation in Spring 2023 focused on supporting practitioners and school/setting leaders to reflect on their curriculum and assessment design processes.

This conversation provided an opportunity to:

• chat with other practitioners from across Wales about their experiences of curriculum and assessment design
• consider what the principles of assessment within Curriculum for Wales mean for your learners
• evaluate how your schools and settings are developing curriculum and assessment design processes along the 3 to 16 continuum
• identifying what is working well and support needed to overcome any challenges

Conversation resources

To access the resources for this National Conversation please register (eventbocs.wales).

Curriculum and assessment design: November 2022

Building on the 2021 to 2022 Curriculum Design Conversations, this National Conversation provided practitioners and leaders in schools and settings with the opportunity to:

• assess the impact of the mandatory elements of the Curriculum for Wales

The Autumn convesation provided practitioners and leaders the opportunity to:

• assess the impact of the mandatory elements of the Curriculum for Wales so far
• evaluate what is working well in schools and settings and identifying any challenges
• evaluate how schools and settings are developing the conceptual understanding within the Statements of What Matters and how this is being developed along the 3 to 16 continuum in curriculum design
• identify what is working well and identifying support for the system to overcome any challenges

To hold conversations in your own setting, please use the attached PowerPoint which contains links to resources to stimulate discussion and further reading:

Also supporting materials have been produced to support curriculum design within schools and settings. They build on the Curriculum for Wales guidance and new school improvement guidance, and set out practical support for curriculum development, quality assurance, and self-evaluation.

Curriculum and assessment design: supporting curriculum and assessment in our Curriculum for Wales classrooms

19 October 2022

Highlights from the conversation:

• Whilst a difficult period, Covid has enabled many schools to establish and maintain new relationships with their families and communities. This has enabled a positive contribution to shape a new vision for Curriculum for Wales with innovative stakeholder engagement.
• Technological innovations were a key feature of building and maintaining relationships for all stakeholders within and across schools and settings.
• A cycle of reflection and evaluation is being established in schools and settings, reflecting the key messages from the Minister for Education and Welsh Language that September 2022 is the start of our implementation journey in Wales. The concept of iterative curriculum and assessment design is establishing itself well across the country. There was a consistent message that not all things were new or meant starting from scratch, the focus on considering the purpose, the ‘why’ of each approach was crucial in supporting change.
• A number of practitioners shared approaches to curriculum design with their schools and clusters. Valuing the time for professional dialogue was a key principle of approaches being taken as was ensuring the time to understand the Curriculum for Wales framework and its implications in moving from an outcome driven curriculum to a purpose driven curriculum. The highlights from the plenary sessions can be seen in this video recording.
• The value of purposeful authentic learning at the heart of learner progress has been a motivator of many approaches alongside a desire to understand ‘understanding’ and the growing sophistication of learning that is created through consideration of the Principles of Progression and the conceptual triggers within the Statements of What Matters.
• Many practitioners talked about the role of research projects such as NPEP as a vehicle for informing their curriculum and assessment design processes. The value of identifying the purpose of both research and action was a clear principle of informing curriculum design processes.

The strategic evaluation to inform next steps is a prominent feature of curriculum and assessment design processes. 

Actions and next steps:

• A key need was a mechanism for quality assuring the design processes for coherence within and across schools.
  We will be working with EduPlanet21 to pilot an approach to curriculum and assessment design based on the work of Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins in Understanding by Design. Details of how schools can become involved in the pilot will be shared in Dysg and via regional and local partnerships.
• Many schools are consolidating actions around implementation, looking to regularly reflect and evaluate their progress, taking a considered and research informed approach to next steps. The School Improvement Guidance: framework for evaluation, improvement and accountability reflects this important message.
• A range of supporting materials have been designed with practitioners across Wales to reflect the outputs from our National Conversations. The resources on Curriculum Design and Assessment and Progression in particular would be useful from this conversation.
• Assessment remains a worry for schools and settings. It is important to separate the role of assessment for learning, evaluating learner progress and accountability. These supporting materials have been developed to support this thinking in schools and settings and support us in developing approaches that can help our thinking including approaches to transition.
  The Camau i’r Dyfodol research project aims to co-construct a research base across the education sector in Wales to support our diverse contexts.
• The Camau Assessing for the Future workshops are available to support schools to move forward in designing their own assessment arrangements.

To utilise the resources and hold this conversation in your own school or setting, please use this playlist to support your conversation. If you wish to feedback any further thoughts, please email curriculumforwales@gov.wales

Conversation resources

To access the resources for this National Conversation please register (eventbocs.wales).

Preparing for roll out: September 2021

In this conversation, practitioners worked together to discuss different approaches to the design and development of Curriculum for Wales.

So far they discussed how:

• to bring together what works
• to better understand the principles of good curriculum development
• to discuss what further support would be most useful to them in preparation for rollout

Video resources for National Network Conversation: preparing for roll out, Autumn 2021

Brief introduction to the National Network from Lloyd Hopkin, Head of Curriculum Reform

Schools preparation for the Curriculum for Wales

Schools overcoming challenges: Alan Edwards, Estyn

Regional support for schools by James Kent, EAS

November 2021

This conversation focused on what resources and materials to support curriculum design, learning and teaching should look like in the new context of the Curriculum for Wales.

The conversation tackled questions such as:

• how do you think your needs for resources and supporting materials will change as a result of Curriculum for Wales?
• what resources have you used that have been helpful? Why?
• looking forward, how could resources support you to design your own curriculum?

Brief introduction to the National Network from Lloyd Hopkin, Head of Curriculum Reform

Overview of resources and supporting Materials and the new Curriculum Dr Sonny Singh, University of Wales Trinity St David, Victoria Jobson, St Joseph's Catholic and Anglican High School, Beth Jones, Brynllywarch Hall School.

Background reading

These slides are designed to support the National Network to help think about what resources could look like for the new Curriculum for Wales. They are meant to prompt discussion. They explore how resources and supporting materials might need to be evolve to support the Curriculum for Wales and they summarise feedback from different experts and stakeholders. They are an indication of possible thinking, not set in stone.

Taking Curriculum for Wales Forward: Engaging, Planning, Enacting, Learning, by George MacBride, G.

You may find it helpful to consider the executive summary and recommendations in particular.

You may find useful to consider to review these after the National Conversation, in your own discussions back at your own setting or local or regional network.

Conversation resources

To access the resources for this National Conversation please register (eventbocs.wales).

March 2022

Conversation purpose

• Bring practitioners together to share their views on how qualifications for learners aged 14 to 16 can be re-imagined to support the new Curriculum for Wales.
• Develop and progress the conversation around how qualifications can align to the Curriculum for Wales framework and support school curricula.
• Identify opportunities to more effectively consider learner wellbeing and better recognise learner experiences within qualifications.
• Identify opportunities for innovation and change within future qualifications in terms of content, assessment and reporting of outcomes, including more effective use of digital technology.
• Identify further work or research that should be undertaken to inform the design, delivery and assessment of future qualifications.
• To input into the process of co-construction of GCSEs and other made-for-Wales qualifications and findings will be relayed to the groups tasked with developing proposals at a subject level for their consideration.

The new curriculum: what’s different?

Question 1: In what ways could qualifications such as GCSEs be ‘reimagined’ to align with Curriculum for Wales and support its implementation?

Qualifications for the new Curriculum: Oliver Stacey

Question 2: How can qualifications such as GCSEs be designed to support meaningful learner experiences and promote positive wellbeing?

Knowledge, skills and experiences: Dr Rachael Sperring

Question 3: Other than GCSEs what is most important to include in the wider qualifications offer for learners aged 14-16

Wider qualifications offer: June Jenkins

Background reading

April 2022

Conversation purpose

• Highlight existing good practice for the teaching of Welsh and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic histories.
• Consider the challenges and importance of embedding Welsh, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic experiences and contributions in history and across the curriculum.
• Examine why belonging and identity is pivotal to learners to understand how they have contributed to Wales’ rich history; and by making connections between local, national and international histories and communities.

Part 1: Who are your learners? Why is it important to teach them about history?

Prof. Martin Johnes: Welsh History & Curriculum for Wales

Leaders from Ysgol Bro Edern talk about developing their curriculum, starting with humanities.

Part 2: How can we connect the histories and experiences of all our learners across Wales? How do we embed Welsh history and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic contributions in Welsh history and across the curriculum?

Professor Charlotte Williams OBE talks about embedding Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and stories in the curriculum to benefit all learners.

Dr Huw Griffiths on cynefin, and Welsh, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic histories.

Further links to material participants may find of interest (not endorsed or promoted):

• Designing Your Curriculum guidance.
• Timeline of events for the work carried out between June 2020 and March 2021 building up to the final report published by the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities, Contributions and Cynefin in the New Curriculum Working Group.
• Summaries of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities, Contributions and Cynefin in the New Curriculum Working Group final report, published March 2021, and the Estyn thematic report on Welsh and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic history and culture.
• Video of Professor Charlotte Williams OBE summarises the findings of her final report and progress to date.
• Video of Professor Charlotte Williams Yr Athro Charlotte Williams OBE/Professor Charlotte Williams OBE.
• Video of Mount Stuart Primary School talking about how they embed belonging and identity in their curriculum.

Conversation resources

To access the resources for this National Conversation please register (eventbocs.wales).

February 2023

A National Network Conversation dedicated to leaders of FNMN settings was held on 2 February 2023.

This conversation concentrated on:

• hearing from other FNMN leaders about what is working well across Wales following curriculum roll-out in September 2022
• discussing some of the key challenges, sharing possible solutions, and to help inform future support
• identified and discussed the practices and resources practitioners are finding helpful with delivering the curriculum

To access the resources for this National Conversation please register (eventbocs.wales).

Report on the conversation

June 2022

Oracy and reading skills help learners make sense of the world around them. With this in mind, the conversation gave the practitioners the opportunity to:

• showcase how schools and settings are positively impacting standards in oracy and reading
• share practical tools which can help raise standards and discuss any barriers to support raising of standards

Reflective activity: preparing for the conversation

Ahead of this conversation in your own school or setting please take some time in advance to carry out this reflective activity:

From your own context reflect on your school or setting’s approach to oracy and reading and what has worked well in continuing to raise standards. This might be, for example, a specific unit of work or an ongoing focus. Consider why it worked and what made it successful.

Reflect on this practice and be ready to share your thinking in the conversation.

Key questions for the conversation

Question 1:

What are the principles underpinning your school or setting’s strategy for oracy and reading? How has evidence and guidance informed your school or setting’s strategy and how has this been useful?

Resource for Question 1

Question 2:

What forms of support would be helpful to further develop schools or settings’ strategies for oracy and reading in the context of the Curriculum of Wales?

Question 3:

How has collaboration across the whole school or setting (for example, including parents and wider community) helped to encourage a culture of reading? Why choose to work this way? What were the challenges and how did you overcome them?

Conversation resources

To access the resources for this National Conversation please register (eventbocs.wales).

Autumn 2022

The conversation on Expressive Arts identified:

• The views of practitioners on what worked and what proved difficult in its 3 statements of what matters in the curriculum, and in planning through cluster engagement.
• How we further support schools and settings to ensure that their learners make progress?
• What should be explored further to support schools to address issues in design and help their learners to explore and develop their skills?

Conversation resources

To access the resources for this National Conversation please register (eventbocs.wales).