We have been campaigning for a number of years for a focus on the full richness and breadth of a school’s curriculum, a fully rounded (or ‘whole’) education.
35% decrease in arts entries at GCSE from 2010 – 18 (JCQ tables)
51% of sixth form schools and colleges have dropped courses in MFL (Sixth Form Colleges Association survey)
Our conversations with experts at the Royal Society, the CBI and the OECD, and with school leaders across our network, have affirmed that a fully rounded education is the only way to sustainably narrow the gap and prepare all young people for their futures. We welcome the recent debate across the sector on the need for such an education. We agree with Ofsted’s broad analysis that there has been an unintended narrowing of the curriculum in some schools.
78% of secondary teachers feel their workload is not manageable (NEU workload survey 2018)
67% five year teacher retention rate (DfE School Workforce in England 2017)
Whole Education was set up to respond to this concern; that pressures in the system led schools in some places to focus on exam results at the expense of maintaining a fully rounded entitlement.
Young people with SEND are 6x more likely than their peers to be excluded (DfE exclusions data)
Young people in England report some of the lowest wellbeing of OECD countries (38/48)
Our schools have reported Ofsted’s new emphasis on curriculum gives them ‘the confidence to be braver’. Over time it can create a supportive climate for schools to develop sustainable approaches to delivering a whole education. This is not a quick fix — it can instead give permission and direction to schools.
49% of young people feel that they are unprepared for the world of work (CBI/ Accenture/Hays polling). Businesses agree; they report that 90% of school leavers and 50% of graduates are not ready for employment (British Chambers of Commerce survey of businesses)
Crucially, it also encourages ambition in schools’ approaches, and can support the development of a mature selfimproving system. The time is now. Text taken from WE’s response to the consultation on Ofsted’s new Inspection Framework
WE are currently in conversation with schools across our network to inform our response to the proposals for the new Ofsted framework.
You can share any comments or feedback on the framework with us by email.
Whole Education response to… by on Scribd