“Knowledge-rich” approach backed at curriculum review events, its chair reveals

Contributors to a roadshow of consultation events, held as part of England’s national curriculum and assessment review, have been backing “again and again” the recent emphasis on a “knowledge-rich” approach to what is taught, the review’s chair has said.

Professor Becky Francis made the statement during a webinar yesterday. This was the latest of 11 events in which the 13-month-long review she leads is engaging with members of the teaching profession, parents and pupils as the new government works out how to update what pupils in England are taught.

The review appears to be steering a careful course between continuity with the reforms of the previous Conservative government and change. However, with Professor Francis also stating during this event that the review was emphasising “evolution, rather than revolution,” the accent may be on the former.

“Powerful knowledge”

The webinar centred on questions submitted by audience members. One had asked whether the review would aim, via the national curriculum, to put more emphasis on skills, such as problem-solving, with the implication being that, under the Conservatives, such aspects had been marginalised.

Professor Francis responded: “It’s about balance. Obviously, in terms of the knowledge-rich curriculum, one of the things that we have heard again and again in our regional events is support for ‘powerful knowledge’. Many, many stakeholders see that as a real strength of our system.