The Secondary Frameworks - At the core of our work
Two levels of progress for all pupils
Raising standards and improving pupil progress are at the heart of every school’s work, and the renewed Secondary Frameworks will help teachers and headteachers achieve these aims.
The renewed Frameworks build on the original Secondary Frameworks for teaching English, mathematics, science and ICT, but reflect the emphases in the new Secondary Curriculum on key concepts, processes and skills.
Web-based materials and face-to-face training will continue to support senior leaders, English, mathematics, science and ICT subject leaders and teachers in meeting the challenges and opportunities the new curriculum offers pupils.
Learning objectives for each of the core subjects for Years 7 to 11 show how to plan for progression across both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. There is guidance on planning and teaching to ensure effective progression, and on day-to-day and periodic assessment to support the tracking of pupil progress. Teachers using the Frameworks will be able to see clearly how to secure two levels of progress for each pupil, by linking selected learning objectives with level-related assessment criteria from the APP resources.
The renewed Frameworks will enable teachers, over time, to collaboratively review and revise existing schemes of work and develop new teaching plans. This is a major advantage for any school’s self-evaluation and school improvement programme.
Training
Local training and support in using the Frameworks are available from National Strategies' consultants at termly SLDMs. All four core subject meetings have been planned in a coordinated way in order to offer a coherent suite of support from spring 2008 until summer 2009 focused on:
- planning for progression;
- using high-quality teaching strategies that tackle misconceptions, help pupils to overcome barriers to attainment, and support motivation, engagement and independence in learning;
- using APP to enhance AfL and track pupils’ progress so that teachers can plan the next steps in learning;
- identifying and working with pupils who will benefit from additional support to help overcome barriers that prevent pupils from making good progress.
When subject leaders attend the SLDMs, they are provided with resources to use with their departments to support development for the whole team. The Frameworks promote collaborative planning within and across departments. They offer rigour, a route map for progression, and accessible resources that subject teams can use to design learning with pupils’ individual needs, prior learning and future progress clearly in mind.
Additional funding is available for schools via the 2008/09 Standards Fund which is the equivalent of 15 days of supply cover to release key English, mathematics, science and ICT staff between the period April 2008 and March 2009. This is for:
- LA-organised subject leader and lead teacher training;
network meetings; - development of new schemes of work based on the new programmes of study,
using the renewed Secondary Frameworks covering both Key Stages 3 and 4; - school planning;
- curriculum coordination.