Revealed: Oak National Academy specification of what it says should be the “guiding principles” of five national curriculum subjects

The government’s newly-formed curriculum body has set out a set of “guiding principles” for five subjects –but seemingly only in private and apparently without consultation.

Oak National Academy, which is receiving £43m in taxpayer funding over three years to roll out “full curriculum programmes” for schools across the UK, has set out its thoughts on what the priorities should be for five national curriculum subjects, as well as listing a range of thinkers on which its approach rests.

The details were put forward in a document sent privately to members of the new quango’s subject “expert groups,” but which has been seen by Education Uncovered.

At least some of the content seems controversial, despite Oak having stressed that its materials will be optional to schools. In a field as contested and politicised as education, many will see it as remarkable that what may resemble aims statements for these subjects have not been subject to national debate, especially given that the taxpayer is funding this work.

The details

Its document, “Subject Expert Group: Autumn 2022 Pre-reading Paper,” was one of two sent to members of these groups for the first six national curriculum subjects for which Oak is commissioning material. The groups are meeting this week, with the contents of their discussions, including the background documents, supposed to be confidential.