The Welsh National Curriculum: "Look at the state of this"...
Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 6:31 pm
Someone on Twitter has just tweeted about the Welsh National Curriculum with the comment, "Look at the state of this!"
http://learning.gov.wales/resources/bro ... y/?lang=en
So, I have started to look at the documents via the link above - and, sure enough, what I have read about language, reading and writing so far I find quite dismaying.
Rather than bang on about why I think the content and format is so inadequate, I thought others might like to look at some of the content first to see what they might think of it.
Then, we could perhaps develop a discussion about this Welsh National Curriculum - and other curriculums too.
I have been shocked already by the advent of Welsh National Schools in which, I am told, children are taught only in the Welsh language until Key Stage 2 (juniors) and then in Key Stage 2, they are taught English as if it is any other subject - for example, one history lesson per week, one English lesson per week. Is this really the case?
I ought to find out more about this because those children must be at a huge disadvantage with regard to communication in the English language if that is the case.
It's hard enough teaching reading and writing with the complex English spelling system to English-speakers, let alone children only being taught in Welsh until they are in Key Stage 2. It's not as if Welsh is spoken widely in the world compared to Spanish for example.
My understanding is that this is what's happening also in Scotland - with the Gaelic language taking increasing precedence over the English language.
What a strange world we live in - whilst much of the rest of the world chooses to teach English as an important additional language, here in the UK, Wales and Scotland look as if they are doing the opposite, turning the clock back regarding the language medium for early schooling.
We need to share a common language in order to be able to communicate and relate to people across the world.
I don't for one minute think that a common language 'should' be English - it is just looking like this is one of those languages of choice as an additional language in much of the rest of the world.
Anyway, I digress, please do glance at the Welsh National Curriculum literature to see what you think!
http://learning.gov.wales/resources/bro ... y/?lang=en
So, I have started to look at the documents via the link above - and, sure enough, what I have read about language, reading and writing so far I find quite dismaying.
Rather than bang on about why I think the content and format is so inadequate, I thought others might like to look at some of the content first to see what they might think of it.
Then, we could perhaps develop a discussion about this Welsh National Curriculum - and other curriculums too.
I have been shocked already by the advent of Welsh National Schools in which, I am told, children are taught only in the Welsh language until Key Stage 2 (juniors) and then in Key Stage 2, they are taught English as if it is any other subject - for example, one history lesson per week, one English lesson per week. Is this really the case?
I ought to find out more about this because those children must be at a huge disadvantage with regard to communication in the English language if that is the case.
It's hard enough teaching reading and writing with the complex English spelling system to English-speakers, let alone children only being taught in Welsh until they are in Key Stage 2. It's not as if Welsh is spoken widely in the world compared to Spanish for example.
My understanding is that this is what's happening also in Scotland - with the Gaelic language taking increasing precedence over the English language.
What a strange world we live in - whilst much of the rest of the world chooses to teach English as an important additional language, here in the UK, Wales and Scotland look as if they are doing the opposite, turning the clock back regarding the language medium for early schooling.
We need to share a common language in order to be able to communicate and relate to people across the world.
I don't for one minute think that a common language 'should' be English - it is just looking like this is one of those languages of choice as an additional language in much of the rest of the world.
Anyway, I digress, please do glance at the Welsh National Curriculum literature to see what you think!