• Latest news
  • RSS feeds
• Find recent news
• Ofsted News
• Media Centre

Press release: Schools are offering a broader, more vocational KS4 curriculum that better matches students' needs

Many students are becoming re-engaged with learning as more schools offer a broader choice of tailor-made courses and vocational programmes at Key Stage 4 (KS4) that are better suited to their needs, according to a new report published today by the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted).

The Key Stage 4 Curriculum - increased flexibility and work-related learning found that a more appropriate curriculum, particularly the provision of vocational courses, has re-engaged many students. Behaviour and attendance have improved and achievement has been raised among particular groups of students, particularly those at risk of disaffection or disengagement. The overwhelming majority of students surveyed were very positive about changes to their curriculum.

This is the second year that Ofsted has reported on the KS4 curriculum. Inspectors found that sixty per cent of schools visited in the second year provided a good curriculum, a more positive picture than the previous year. Compared to the previous year they offered a more diverse range of qualifications and work-related learning had greater breadth. The majority of schools visited in both years of the survey took account of the needs of most young people, although ensuring that the curriculum was responsive to the needs of all groups remained a challenge. Most schools expected that a more engaging and better taught curriculum would raise the attainment of all students and over half of those visited chose to offer courses which allowed students to follow their interests and develop their skills, even though the qualifications might accrue fewer GCSE 'points'. However, across the two years of the survey, curriculum development in a small minority of schools visited was constrained by a perception that change would not maximise success in public examinations or performance tables. Consequently, these schools offered a narrow curriculum with little or no access to vocational qualifications.

About a third of schools visited over the two years provided distinct curriculum pathways in KS4 which in some instances limited the opportunities for able students to undertake courses leading to vocational qualifications, and often ruled out more academic courses for those following vocational options. Work-related learning and vocational subjects are still seen by too many schools and parents as relevant for only those who underachieve.

Miriam Rosen, Ofsted's Director of Education, said:

"Greater numbers of schools are offering a more diverse range of qualifications, particularly vocational subjects, which are re-engaging students in learning and increasing their motivation. However, some schools remain reluctant to expand the range of qualifications they offer, while others are not making vocational options available to all, and they must now broaden their curriculum to ensure the needs of all students are met."

Teaching and learning on the new and adapted courses improved during the survey and by its end two thirds of the lessons observed were good or better. Weaknesses were mostly in work-related learning and in new courses where staff had insufficient knowledge and training in subjects which were new to them. Most of the schools visited paid good attention to careers education and guidance, which supported Year 9 students effectively in choosing their options at KS4.

Half of the schools visited in the second year of the survey provided good work-related learning, which could include work experience, vocational courses and learning career management skills. Although this was a higher proportion than in the previous year, provision was still inadequate in 20 per cent of schools visited. Schools continue to find it difficult to evaluate the benefits of work-related learning, including work experience.

Commenting on work-related learning, one student said: "I believe learning about work opens your eyes. It makes you realise how hard work is." Another student said: "Work experience makes you work harder at school because you learn about the realities of work and what you need to achieve at school to help you in your targeted job."

The survey identified the extent to which increased flexibilities in the curriculum improved opportunities for young people and promoted better motivation, progress, achievement and attainment. However, all participants in the survey highlighted barriers to effective collaboration between schools, colleges and work-based learning providers to widen the curriculum. Schools tended to concentrate on advanced level courses post-16 and many colleges did not have the capacity to increase the numbers of 14 to 16 year olds on their courses.

The report recommends that schools offer a broad curriculum to all students which provides sufficient choice, meets their needs and makes vocational options available to all. Schools should also collaborate effectively with other educational partners within an area to ensure that a wide range of curriculum options is provided for all students, provide sufficient training for staff to teach new courses as well as monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and benefits of work-related learning and enterprise.

It also recommends that the Department for Education and Skills in consultation with the local Learning and Skills Council should allocate funding in a way that encourages schools in an area to work together to improve the curriculum. It also recommends that local authorities should support schools and other providers in strengthening 14 to 19 strategies for all young people so that progression routes are flexible enough to meet their needs; and also to continue to broker arrangements amongst schools, colleges and other educational partners.

Related Links

• Read the news article

Notes For Editors

1. The Key Stage 4 curriculum - increased flexibility and work-related learning is available on the Ofsted website www.ofsted.gov.uk today.2. Over the two years of this survey, from 2004 to 2006, Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools (HMI) and Additional Inspectors eight colleges and 155 secondary schools, including six special schools and five pupil referral units, in 64 local authorities. Inspectors revisited 11 schools a year later to discuss what progress had been made. Additional evidence was gathered from around 650 questionnaires completed by students, as well as from those completed by teachers in charge of 14 to 19 developments. Schools were invited to give a description of their current Key Stage 4 curriculum known as a curriculum 'map' and around a third did so.3. Since 2004, schools have been required to provide English, mathematics, science, information technology, physical education, careers education, citizenship, religious education, sex education and work-related and enterprise learning for all students in KS4. Students are also entitled to study the arts, design and technology, humanities and modern foreign languages.4. From 1 April 2007 a new single inspectorate for children and learners came into being. The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) has the responsibility for the inspection of adult learning and training - work formerly undertaken by the Adult Learning Inspectorate; the regulation and inspection of children's social care - work formerly undertaken by the Commission for Social Care Inspection; the inspection of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service - work formerly undertaken by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Court Administration; and the existing regulatory and inspection activities of Ofsted

Share this

Google Plus One