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THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM
A survey of the teaching profession
April 2014
Methodology
The NUT conducted an online survey of teachers’ views on the implementation of the
new National Curriculum for England. Those surveyed were a representative sample
teachers in primary and secondary schools, and other settings such as special schools.
A total of 1940 responses were received.
Background
A revised National Curriculum is due to be implemented in schools in England from
September 2014. The National Curriculum will be a statutory requirement in all local
authority maintained schools. The flexibilities granted to Academy schools allow them to
choose whether or not to implement the National Curriculum.
Summary
The responses indicate that there are significant problems with the introduction of the
new National Curriculum. The substantial majority of teachers surveyed indicated that:
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There has been insufficient support from the Department for Education (DfE) for
the implementation of the new National Curriculum
There has been insufficient funding and resources, and professional development
opportunities available to support schools in implementing the new National
Curriculum
There has been insufficient time available to ensure that the new National
Curriculum can be implemented in such a way as to ensure a high quality
learning experience for pupils
Teachers lack confidence in having a curriculum that will meet the needs of all
learners in place by September 2014
The cumulative impact of change – including changes to GCSEs, A levels and
vocational qualifications, school based teacher training, and new arrangements
for pupils with special educational needs – has had a negative effect on schools’
ability to plan for the new National Curriculum
Responses to the survey are set out overleaf.
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Responses
Support
Question 1: Teachers were asked what, if any, support their school had received from
the DfE to design and develop their school curriculum. The responses are listed below.
%
None
72
A little
23
Some
5
A lot
0
Comments:
 We’ve received nothing, apart from the National Curriculum itself
 Supply teachers aren’t getting any support
 How can we develop a world-class curriculum with no real aims - and one that
more than half of secondary schools do not have to teach?!
Question 2: They were then asked if they think the DfE should have provided schools
with more practical and CPD support about curriculum design and development. The
responses are listed below.
%
Yes
93
No
3
Don’t know
4
Question 3: The next question asked whether teachers thought it appropriate for
schools to have to spend their budgets on resources and professional development
courses from profit making companies in relation to National Curriculum change.
Responses are listed below.
%
Yes
3
No
91
Don’t know
6
Comments:
 Much more should be provided by DfE (and local authorities) to enable schools to
be far more creative with curriculum design.
 Seems there is little choice when we have no time to develop our own
[resources], particularly as there is nothing from DfE on mixed key stage classes
 A massive waste of resources as money already spent on resourcing current
curricular areas of study
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They should have kept funding for LAs to support schools!
A big worry is the new GCSE texts to find money for. We have a tight budget
anyway, with approx. 200 students per year group with up to 4 new sets of texts
to buy as Of Mice and Men, A View from the Bridge and To Kill a Mockingbird are
cast aside. With expensive changes like this there should be an increase [in
funding] for texts
We should be provided with the necessary materials and time to develop the new
courses
Depends on how bespoke the training is
It should be in place and part of the changes
Preparation
Question 4: Teachers were asked what kinds of support they would have liked to have
received from the Government to implement the new curriculum. Responses are listed
below in order of most popular.
%
Release time for reflection and planning
88
Additional funding for CPD
80
Resources about curriculum design
71
Recognition that cumulative impact of changes is very
challenging
68
Longer lead-in time
57
Time to engage with other subject specialists
59
The following additional suggestions were made:
 Funding for resources
 Explanations for the rationale behind the changes and validation of the process
they have undergone to reach their conclusions. Confidence in their authority to
make these changes is very low.
 exemplar materials for course delivery and assessment
 Consultation with educational professionals re the content and the required
changes
 Example schemes of work
 Online resources and training packages that supply teachers can access such as
would have been provided by the QCA.
 It should have been phased in over several years with a lot more inset training
 Free CPD for supply teachers
 An extra INSET day to plan as a whole school team
 In Scotland the Scottish Government provided much longer for the introduction of
Curriculum for Excellence with considerable extra inset, funded CPD and national
resources. There was also a reduction of inspections to reduce pressure on
schools during the roll out. Standards improved
 Financial support for CPD and resources
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Question 5: Teachers were then asked if they thought that an additional in service
training (Inset) day should be provided in the summer or autumn term of 2104 to assist
with preparation for the new National Curriculum. Reponses are listed below.
%
Yes
94
No
3
Don’t know
3
Question 6: The next question asked teachers whether the planning and preparation
they had personally undertaken for the introduction of the new National Curriculum had
been undertaken within their contractual directed time of 1265 hours per year.
Responses are listed below.
%
Yes, within directed time
7
Partially in directed time
28
Wholly in my own time
25
Have found no time so far
36
Don’t know
4
Readiness
Question 7: Teachers were asked how confident they felt that their school would be
ready for September 2014 with a curriculum that met their expectations for quality.
Responses are listed below.
%
Fully confident
2
Quite confident
23
Not confident
47
Doubtful
15
Very doubtful
13
Question 8: They were then asked whether the timescale for the introduction of the new
National Curriculum had provided the necessary time to ensure a high quality learning
experience for pupils. Responses are listed below.
%
Yes
5
No
78
Don’t know
17
5
Comments:
 We are always very thorough in our preparation, but [the] number of changes
across the curriculum have put more pressure on a very experienced team
 We have too heavy a workload now to plan for the new National Curriculum
 The new curriculum does not match student needs
 [I teach] in a school with mixed age classes where year 2 and year 6 still need to
work towards the old curriculum because they haven't bothered prepared test
materials etc to match [the new curriculum], it is ridiculous
 Yes but only because of the ridiculous amount of time our teachers have used
out of their own time to plan and prepare
 The slow and late release of confirmed programmes of study and their lack of
real detail - especially re: assessment has made the whole process difficult