Last updated: 12 Jul 2007

QCA today launched the new secondary national curriculum. The new programmes of study have been designed to give teachers a less prescriptive, more flexible framework for teaching, creating more scope to tailor the curriculum to meet the needs of each individual student. The change of focus within the curriculum will provide a foundation for education post -14, and includes specific transitional material to ensure smooth progress to key stage 4 and beyond.

Ken Boston, Chief Executive of QCA said:

"QCA is pleased to be launching the new secondary curriculum. The consultation was widely supported by education professionals, parents, employers, industry experts - in fact, anyone with an interest in education. The opportunity to create an exciting and stimulating curriculum that includes classroom activities and out-of-hours learning, as well as a solid foundation in the basic subjects, has been greeted enthusiastically.

"Our aim has been to increase flexibility. The new curriculum builds on the best of the past by maintaining the discipline of subjects, but at the same time offering greater opportunities for personalised learning, addressing the major challenges that face society and equipping young people with the skills for life and work in the 21st Century.

"By mixing tradition with a more creative approach to the curriculum, we will achieve our objective of producing successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens."

Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate, said:

"One of the several heartening things about the revised Secondary Curriculum is the way it creates more space and provides more encouragement for pupils to discover the value of contributing to a creative culture of learning. Just as importantly, it spreads the benefits of this approach across all subjects and disciplines. It is a very welcome development."

Notes to editors

• The programmes of study will be laid before Parliament and schools will receive these programmes of study in September 2007 for teaching from September 2008. The new secondary curriculum website will be launched in September. There will then be a three-year period from 2008-2010 for schools to implement the new programmes of study.
• For further information, please call the QCA press office newsdesk on 020 7509 6789.
• Members of the general public requiring further information should contact the QCA customer helpline 020 7509 5556.
• Ken Boston's speech at the launch 'Curricululm for the 21st century' is available from this website.