Information Package for the Australian Curriculum
The Australian curriculum
The development of the Australian curriculum is being managed by the national body, the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), with input and feedback from the states and territories.
The Australian curriculum is being developed in phases. Phase 1 curriculum development involves English, mathematics, science and history. Phase 2 curriculum development involves Geography, the Arts and Languages. The scope of the Australian curriculum over time will comprise the eight key learning areas of the Melbourne Declaration.
Detailed information about the Australian curriculum, including curriculum design documents and timelines about ACARA’s processes, are published on the ACARA website: www.acara.edu.au
The Board of Studies NSW continues to be responsible for advising the NSW Minister for Education and Training on the appropriateness of curriculum for NSW schools and the structure and process of its implementation, including with regard to the Australian curriculum.
Further information about the Australian curriculum in NSW is available on the Board of Studies, NSW website:
www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/australian-curriculum
Consultation
Consultation on the draft K–10 Australian curriculum for English, Mathematics, Science and History ended on 30 May 2010. Publication of the final curriculum in these areas is expected later in 2010.
On 14 May 2010 ACARA released the draft senior secondary curriculum content for 14 courses in the learning areas of English, Mathematics, Science and History. The draft senior secondary curriculum is expressed through content which describe what young people should be taught. The content is organised into strands and/or units and courses. Content elaborations are not provided for the senior secondary Australian curriculum courses.
It is intended that general capabilities and cross curriculum dimensions will be integrated into each learning area. The general capabilities will include literacy, numeracy, ICT, thinking skills, creativity, self-management, teamwork, intercultural understanding, ethical behaviour and social competence. The cross-curriculum dimensions will include Indigenous history and culture; Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia, and sustainability.
ACARA has advised that once the senior secondary achievement standards have been developed in early 2011, the curriculum content and achievement standards will be subject to further national consultation.
Formal assessment and credentialling processes such as the School Certificate and the Higher School Certificate are not part of the Australian curriculum and remain the responsibility of NSW and the Board of Studies NSW.
Similarly, pedagogy, that is, how the curriculum is taught and assessed (other than for a credential) remains the responsibility of each education sector. Hence, models, approaches and practices to which schools are committed need not be affected by the Australian curriculum.
The Board of Studies NSW continues to be responsible for advising the NSW Minister for Education and Training on the appropriateness of curriculum, including the Australian curriculum, for NSW schools and the structure and process of its implementation.
The Board of Studies NSW will conduct consultation meetings with teachers during Term 3 to gather feedback about the draft senior secondary Australian curriculum content for English, Mathematics, Science and History. Information will be available on the Board of Studies website at the beginning of Term 3.
System authorities, school associations and professional bodies will also undertake a level of consultation to inform their own position. The consultation processes are being carefully coordinated and information will be provided by the organisations.
Approval and implementation
Once the Australian curriculum for a subject has been approved by the NSW Minister for Education and Training, it will replace equivalent NSW curriculum content and be adopted for implementation in NSW.
Timelines for implementation of the senior secondary Australian curriculum have not yet been determined.
The Board of Studies NSW has advised that all schools should continue to use the existing NSW K–12 syllabuses in 2011.
The adoption of the Australian curriculum will involve changes in NSW. Advice to schools on how to manage these changes will be provided by both the Board of Studies NSW and the education sectors.
Conclusion
A national curriculum for Australia is a highly significant development designed to benefit all young Australians and the nation.
Education sectors are working closely with principals, teachers and with the Board of Studies NSW to ensure that the Australian curriculum enhances the already high standard of curriculum in NSW and that its implementation is well supported.
NSW Government