Topical updates
This section sets out to track industry developments of relevance to the industry, offering general updates rather than a breaking news function.
We start with the Williams Review, Sir Peter Williams' final report for the independent Review of Mathematics Teaching in Primary Schools and Early Years Settings, published on 17 June 08. It aims to ensure that all children are competent in basic maths by the age of seven, and includes the recommendation that there should be a maths specialist in every primary school in the country. See www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/primary/mathematicsreview for more.
The Rose Review of the Primary Curriculum initiated by Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls in February 2008 is underway under the independent leadership of Sir Jim Rose, focusing on children from five to eleven. An interim report is due in October 2008 and the final report in March 2009, with implementation in September 2011. See www.dcsf.gov.uk/primarycurriculumreview/ for a remit and an analysis of responses to the initial consultation.
Running concurrently with the Rose Review but over a longer time is the Review of Primary Education in England led by Professor Robin Alexander of Cambridge University. Since starting work in October 2006, the Primary Review has published 29 interim reports and held meetings with organisations and practitioners to discuss the implications. The final report is in the pipeline - see www.primaryreview.org.uk/.
The Parliamentary Select Committee for Children, Schools and Families chaired by Barry Sheerman MP is conducting an enquiry into the National Curriculum that is expected to report in early 2009; it will continue to collect oral evidence during Autumn 2008. Full information on the Committee's work is at www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/csf.cfm.