The New National Curriculum

Subject

What’s new?

English

• Stronger emphasis on vocabulary development, grammar, punctuation and spelling (for example,the use of commas and apostrophes will be taught in KS1)

• Handwriting – not currently assessed under the national curriculum – is expected to be fluent, legible and speedy

• Spoken English has a greater emphasis, with children to be taught debating and presenting skills

Maths

• Five-year-olds will be expected to learn to count up to 100 (compared to 20 under the current curriculum) and learn number bonds to 20 (currently up to 10)

• Simple fractions (1/4 and 1/2) will be taught from KS1, and by the end of primary school, children should be able to convert decimal fractions to simple fractions (e.g. 0.375 = 3/8)

• By the age of nine, children will be expected to know times tables up to 12x12 (currently 10x10 by the end of primary school)

• Calculators will not be introduced until near the end of KS2, to encourage mental arithmetic

Science

• Strong focus on scientific knowledge and language, rather than understanding the nature and methods of science in abstract terms

• Evolution will be taught in primary schools for the first time

• Non-core subjects like caring for animals will be replaced by topics like the 

Design and Technology

• Afforded greater importance under the new curriculum, setting children on the path to becoming the designers and engineers of the future

• More sophisticated use of design equipment such as electronics and robotics

• In KS2, children will learn about how key events and individuals in design and technology have shaped the world

Computing

• Computing replaces Information and Communication Technology (ICT), with a greater focus on programming rather than on operating programs

• From age five, children will learn to write and test simple programs, and to organise, store and retrieve data

• From seven, they will be taught to understand computer networks, including the internet

• Internet safety – currently only taught from 11-16 – will be taught in primary schools

Languages

• Currently not statutory,a modern foreign language or ancient language (Latin or Greek) will be mandatory in KS2

• Children will be expected to master basic grammar and accurate pronunciation and to converse, present, read and write in the language