Gove’s ‘false assertions’ on curriculum

Secretary for Education Michael Gove announced a revised the draft programmes of study for design and technology, and history.

“Other significant changes include the inclusion of a stronger emphasis on vocabulary development in the programmes of study for English and greater flexibility in the choice of foreign languages which primary schools will now be required to teach,” he said in a statement to Parliament.

“And perhaps the most significant change of all is the replacement of ICT with computing. Instead of just learning to use programmes created by others, it is vital that children learn to create their own programmes.”

Chris Keates, General Secretary for the NASUWT, the largest teachers' union, said Mr Gove had “trotted out tired old and false assertions about England's alleged slide down the international leagues tables as a justification for tearing up the qualifications and curriculum framework and pursuing his personal ideological crusade”.

“The fact is that the UK has a world-class education service which is sixth in the world and the second best in Europe and it is complete falsehood to suggest otherwise,” she said.

“Apart from a bit of tinkering here and there, the national framework document published today fails to reflect any of the serious concerns that were raised across all subjects from employers, academics, parents' groups and teachers. It remains far too narrow, and has none of the breadth and balance that experts were demanding.

“It is one of the clearest examples yet of a Secretary of State who is unwilling or unable to listen to the voices of experts and ignore evidence to pursue his ideological campaign.

“The timetable for implementation is dangerously and recklessly short and will leave schools facing potential chaos which could be hugely detrimental to the life chances of a generation of children and young people. The Secretary of State has put politics above common sense.”

The union said while it is “committed” to talks about changing the education system, “the starting point is to embark on a relationship of good faith, and genuine consultation. This Government consistently fails on both those counts”.