Aspects of Primary Education: the Teaching and Learning of Science
Published in 1989 by Her Majesty's Inspectorate (HMI), this report looks at the changes in science teaching from the mid-seventies to the late-eighties and discusses how further improvements could be achieved. It is based on observations made by HMI during the inspection of 300 primary schools in England, and from evidence about…
Design and Technological Activity: a Framework for Assessment
This report, from the Assessment of Performance Unit (APU), follows a series of other reports establishing the nature of design and technology. This report was again concerned initially to clarify the parameters of design and technological activity and the features of performance that are crucial. Subsequently, the work of the team…
The School Curriculum
This report from the Department of Education and Science published in March 1981 sets out the governments recommendations for the school curriculum for the 5-16 age range as a result of several years of public discussion and government consultation. This report predates, but would have influenced the content of, the National Curriculum. The…
Understanding Design and Technology 1982
Produced in 1982, this Assessment of Performance Unit discussion document was based on a report prepared by a special working group of the APU which was submitted to the Unit in the Summer of 1980. The group was asked: • to identify those aspects of an understanding of both design and technology most likely to be reflected…
Craft, Design and Technology from 5 to 16 (Curriculum Matters 9): 1987
Produced in 1987, this document written by the Department for Education and Science and HM Inspectorate was intended to stimulate a professional debate and to contribute to reaching national agreement about the objectives and content of the school craft, design and technology curriculum of the time. Context The Government had…
APU Science Report for Teachers 8: Planning Scientific Investigations at Age 11
This APU report for teachers focuses on students’ planning of investigations. Although considered important in several respects, Report for Teachers 1 found that little emphasis was given in primary schools to students designing investigations or even planning parts of investigations such as identifying variables and making…
APU Science Report for Teachers 6: Practical Testing at Ages 11, 13, and 15
This APU report for teachers describes the aspect of the science surveys where the science project broke new ground. The reason for including practical tasks was the emphasis placed on practical work in science, requiring a range of skills. It was considered that science performance could not be adequately assessed on paper alone.…
APU Science Report for Teachers 4: Science Assessment Framework Age 11
This APU report for teachers gives information about what was assessed in the APU monitoring of students’ performance aged 11 (a short-hand for children between the ages of 10 years 9 months and 11 years 8 months). After a brief summary of the background to the APU surveys, it's main focus is a description and rationale…
APU Science Report for Teachers 1: Science at Age 11
This APU report for teachers presents a summary of the main findings likely to be of most interest to teachers from the first two surveys of students at age 11, conducted in 1980 and 1981. It also offers some conclusions about what students at this age were generally able to do, or not, with implications for practice. The report…
Mathematics from 5 to 16: Responses to Curriculum Matters 3 1987
A resource from the National Curriculum Council (NCC). This booklet from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate (HMI) was a response to Mathematics from 5 to 16 1985, which was the third in a series intended to stimulate discussion about the curriculum as a whole and about its individual components. All responses from the consultative…
Mathematics in the National Curriculum 1989
The National Curriculum for Mathematics was introduced into England, Wales and Northern Ireland as a nationwide curriculum for primary and secondary state schools following the Education Reform Act 1988. The purpose of the National Curriculum was to standardise the content taught across schools in order to raise standards of attainment…
Technology in Schools: Developments in Craft, Design and Technology Departments 1982
Produced in 1982, this Department for Education and Science and HM Inspectorate booklet describes some aspects of technological studies in 90 schools in England and Wales. It gives information about the structure, content and organisation of courses in technology, and about some other ways in which schools attempted to introduce…
National Curriculum Design and Technology Working Group: Interim Report 1988
A report from the National Curriculum Council (NCC). An initial consultation report in November 1988 proposed an ambitious, broad, integrated approach to a range of design and technology-related subjects explored through a wide variety of contexts. It recognised the complex relationship between the knowledge and skills and the practical…
Science in the National Curriculum 1989
This was the first National Curriculum for Science in England and Wales. One intention of the National Curriculum was that all students aged 5 to 16 learn science – that there should be ‘Science for All’ – and that this should include both the ‘methods of science’ and the acquisition of ‘knowledge…