A Review of the Key Stage Four Curriculum

By Emma Feggetter

Introduction

• Background Information

• Aims of the change to the curriculum

• Review at St Bede’s• Findings • Further work

St Bede’s Catholic College

• Smaller than average secondary school

• Wide Catchment Area• In 2007 64 % achieved 5

A*-C GCSE grades• Specialist Science Status• Previous links with the

school

What I did at St Bede’s

• Observation• Participation• GCSE coursework• Science Week• Key Stage Four

review

Science Week - Demonstration

Basis for my review

• General interest in change in curriculum

• First cohort of students

• Helped pupils with coursework

• Useful to the school for future reference

History of Science Education

• Early 19th Century – Science not taught in schools

• 1904 – Science compulsory in grammar schools

• 1950s – Science Education needed major reform

• 1988 – Introduction of the National Curriculum

Source: www.cccoe.k12.ca.us/about/Images_About/history/HistSchoolRoom

1988• Education Reform Act - Compulsory

education up to 16

• National Curriculum divided into four key stages

• Series of modifications to the existing curricula

KS4 Curriculum Dilemma

Scientific Literacy

versus

Science for Specialists

New Science CurriculumSeeks to satisfy both

- promote ‘scientific literacy’

- prepare young people for more advanced study

Source: (Millar 2006)

Further Aims

• Integrated 14 – 19 approach• More flexible curriculum• Greater level of independent learning• Ensure entitlement for all learners• Engaging for pupils• Set science in a relevant context• More appropriate scheme of assessment

Finding out staff and student opinion at St Bede’s?

• Pupil Questionnaires- completed by 232 pupils

• Teacher Surveys- completed by all 8 members of staff

• Technicians Question Time

Methodology

• Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis

• Open Questions– Thought Provoking

• Closed Questions– Ability to conduct statistical analysis

• Anonymity

Analysis of the pupils questionnaires

• 81 % of pupils in years 10 and 11 like science• 78 % like the subject matter of the GCSE

courseThe Correlation of predicated grade against whether they like science

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

A-B B B-C C C-D D

Predicted Grade

% w

ho lik

e s

cie

ncexxx

Analysis of the pupils questionnaire

• 70% of year 10 pupils think the course is relevant to everyday life

• 93 % of pupils in years 10 and 11 would like more practicals

Pupils response to would you like more practical work

93%

7%

said yes

said no

Pupil Comments

Explain how the GCSE course is or isn’t relevant to your everyday life:

‘It allows for complex and informed opinions to be formulated and expressed about social, cultural and economic subjects.’

‘We do work about baby care and such other things that we will deal with in everyday life.’

‘It isn’t relevant because once I leave school I wont need to know these things.’

Pupils Comments Continued How has the GCSE course been different to

years 7 – 9?‘Its more related to issues’

‘Its more engaged and interesting and more challenging’

‘You have more independent work and your teachers are there if you need them.’

Analysis of the teacher survey• 100 % thought the new

course was more relevant to everyday life

• 100 % thought there were not enough practicals allocated in the scheme of work

• 100 % thought there were too many discussions

Conclusions

• Limitations – Data only from one school• Satisfies both scientific literacy and science for

specialists• In general, aims of the changes fulfilled• More practical work required • Potentially too many discussions

- Better framework required- More background science

My Further Work• Compare with St Brendan’s Sixth Form

• Compare with France

Source :www.frenchentree.com/fe-education/images/TeenagersinClassrom.jpg

Summary

• Information about St Bede’s• What I did during my time there• Brief History of the Curriculum• The aims of the change in curriculum• Research methods• Findings• Further Work

With Thanks to

• The Staff and Pupils at St Bede’s

• Tony and Barbara the technicians at St Bede’s

• Tim Harrison and Dr David Smith

• Linda Sellou