Illawarra school students could be learning from a new 'decluttered' Australian Curriculum from as early as this month after it was endorsed today by education ministers across Australia.
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Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) CEO, David de Carvalho said the Australian Curriculum set high expectations and standards for what all students should know and be able to do.
Mr de Carvalho added the new curriculum also supported deeper conceptual understanding and improvement in educational performance.
"The Australian Curriculum ensures the same high standard curriculum content is available to every student, regardless of where they live. It reflects the priorities and expectations we hold for our young people, and this curriculum sets a new high benchmark," he said.
"Importantly, this is a more stripped-back and teachable curriculum that identifies the essential content our children should learn. Together with new resources designed to support our teachers, it is expected the Australian Curriculum will lead to improved student outcomes.
"There is a stronger focus on phonics in English and on mastering essential mathematical facts, concepts, skills and processes. Students will be introduced to concepts and processes at the right time.
"History has been significantly decluttered, allowing more time for in-depth teaching. There is a strengthening of explicit teaching of consent and respectful relationships from F-10 in age-appropriate ways."
Key changes to the Australian Curriculum include:
- The removal and reduction of content so the curriculum can be taught with depth and rigour
- a stronger focus on phonics in English
- making clear what mathematical computations need to be done without a calculator, reinforcing the importance of achieving proficiency in foundational skills
- lifting standards for Mathematics in Year 1 in relation to addition and subtraction, and with additional content setting expectations about recall and proficiency with multiplication facts ("times tables") beginning in Year 2.
- prioritising Australian history in Year 9 and 10 within a global context
- deepening students' understanding of First Nations Australian histories and cultures, the impact on First Nations Australians of the arrival of British settlers as well as their contribution to the building of modern Australia.
- strengthening and making explicit teaching about the origins and heritage of Australia's democracy and the diversity of Australian communities.
- strengthening the explicit teaching of consent and respectful relationships from F-10 in age-appropriate ways.
- strengthening the focus on students being physically active and content with a focus on activity in natural and outdoor settings.
- strengthening the Foundation year by identifying the essential content to teach in the first year of school across all 8 learning areas.
Read more: Parents urged to comment on draft maths and English curriculum for Years 3-10
More than 6000 online surveys and 900 email submissions were received during the curriculum review period.
Eighteen teacher and curriculum reference groups comprising 360 teachers and curriculum specialists from across Australia also supported and provided advice during the review process.
"The Australian Curriculum must represent broad community consensus and be based on well-informed and researched evidence, and the consultation process has helped achieve this outcome," ACARA's Curriculum Director, Sharon Foster, said.
"The final version has been significantly improved as a result."
The existing Australian Curriculum that is currently taught in schools, and all support resources, will continue to be available on the current Australian Curriculum website until all states, territories and schools are implementing the updated curriculum.
The updated curriculum, Version 9.0, will be available on a new website in Term 2, 2022 and will be implemented by schools according to the timelines set by education authorities in states and territories.
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