Australian Curriculum Information for parents

Background

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) 2008 National Curriculum Board (NCB) ACARA became responsible for national curriculum, assessment and reporting.

ACARA website

Why an Australian Curriculum? A COAG decision. Provides skills, knowledge and capabilities for young Australians. The combined efforts of states and territories focused on improving student learning. Offers greater consistency for the mobile student and teacher population.

Melbourne Declaration (2009) Learning areas English Mathematics Science (inc. physics, chemistry and biology) Humanities and Social Sciences ( inc. history, geography, economics, business, civics and citizenship) Languages (focus on Asian languages) The Arts (performing and visual) Health and Physical Education Information and Communication Technologies Design and Technology

Australian Curriculum — Learning areas Australian Curriculum Learning Areas Phase 1 Year K(P)–1011 & 12 English4 courses History4 courses Science4 courses Mathematics2 courses Phase 2 Arts Geography Languages Phase 3 Health and Physical Education K(P)–10 Others may be announced

Developing Australian Curriculum

Australian Curriculum development StageActivity Curriculum framingConfirmation of directions for writing curriculum Curriculum development Two-step process for development of curriculum documents: Step 1 – broad outline; scope and sequence Step 2 – completion of “detail” of curriculum ConsultationNational consultation and trialing PublicationDigital publication

Timelines Phase 1 English, mathematics, science and history Phase 2 Geography, languages and the arts Phase 3 ‘The whole curriculum” TBA Development stageK(P)–10Years 11–12K(P)– Advice is being sought regarding ACARA’s approach to the development of the whole curriculum and those learning areas not currently being developed by ACARA Curriculum framingApril 2009 June 2010 Curriculum development May – Dec 2009 June 2009 – Feb 2010 Begin late 2010 National consultation and trial 1 March – 23 May 2010 April – June 2010 Early 2011 Digital publicationSeptember 2010 September/ October 2010 Mid-2011

Australian Curriculum structure Rationale Aims Organisation of the learning area – strands – content descriptions – content elaborations Achievement standards – samples of student work

Content descriptions and elaborations Content descriptions are explicit statements about what all students should be taught. Content elaborations are designed to support teachers’ understanding of the content descriptions.

General capabilities LiteracySelf-management NumeracyTeamwork ICTIntercultural understanding Thinking skillsEthical behaviour CreativitySocial competence Cross-curricular dimensions Indigenous history and culture Sustainability Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia

What will the Australian Curriculum look like?

Years K(P)–10

K(P)–10 Strands Learning areaStrands EnglishLanguage Literature Literacy HistoryHistorical knowledge and understanding Historical skills ScienceScience inquiry skills Science as a human endeavour Science understanding MathematicsNumber and algebra Statistics and probability Measurement and geometry

K(P)–10 Achievement standards The quality of learning expected of students who are taught the content. Specified for each learning area by year of schooling. Students who have reached the standard are well able to progress to the next level.

Years 11 and 12

Learning areaSenior courses English Literature English for life and the workplace English as an additional language or dialect (EALD) HistoryAncient history Modern history ScienceBiology Chemistry Physics Earth and environmental science MathematicsEssential mathematics General mathematics Mathematical methods Specialist mathematics

English: four courses English for life and the workplace Focus on further students’ literacy and language skills for effective participation in work, training and community, social and civic life. English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D) Focuses on students for whom English is an additional language. English Focuses on extending students use of language and literature and meeting the demands for further study, work and community, social and civic life. Literature A two-year course focusing on the study of literature.

Science: four courses Biology Chemistry Physics Earth and environmental science History: two courses Modern history Ancient history

Mathematics: four courses Essential mathematics Focuses on applied mathematics for everyday life. General mathematics Focuses on mathematics suitable for preparation for further study with a moderate demand in mathematics. Mathematical methods Focuses on substantial development of mathematical knowledge and higher level mathematics. Specialist mathematics Focuses on mathematics for further study in mathematics or engineering and students with a strong interest in mathematics.

Assessment — processes and certification will remain a state/school responsibility States and territories will be responsible for: − assessment − certification − quality assurance − tertiary entrance. Where there is a nationally developed course states/territories will cease to offer any comparable existing course. The number of courses may grow over time.

Providing feedback

Queensland’s alignment with the national approach Excellence and equity through: clarity about content clarity about standards valuing teacher professionalism.

Keep in touch

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