It looks as though we are going to get a new National Curriculum, though it is bound to have a new name, a rebrand no doubt. Where will science feature? and how will it feature? are two key questions. Do we need it in the current educational climate? It is hard to argue against a National Curriculum, is it a motherhood and apple pie thing? Clearly we don't have to have a National Curriculum but would any education minister give up the opportunity for that much power to meddle in education? is there a core body of subject knowledge that all children should learn? Most would say that there was. Is the issue the nature and size of the body of knowledge. Whose role is it to determine that body of knowledge? and what is the status of anything left out?
Science has got to be there as part of a Primary National Curriculum because to be outside it would mean it would almost certainly shrink and likely disappear? Would that matter? Yes if we want youngsters to have a growing wonder of the world and more. This brings us back again to the nature of that science, is it all content driven or is it a genuine exploration of the world and an opportinity to develop key skills? If we had a blank slate what would we include?
