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A balanced and broadly based curriculum Q&A with Dr.Tony Eaude – NAPE 066

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Towards a balanced and broadly-based curriculum was the theme of the National Association for Primary Education conference in March 2021. The keynote lecture was given by Dr. Tony Eaude.

This is a follow up Q&A taken from a subsequent Facebook live event.

Tony suggested four main arguments for a balanced and broadly-based primary curriculum:

  • that the law states that schools must offer this (as it does) and that Ofsted expect this (at least from 7 years old);
  • one based on how children create coherent, robust and flexible identities, enhancing their well-being and founded on a sense of agency;
  • one based on a conception of democratic citizenship in which children are increasingly enabled to deal with complex ideas right from the start; and
  • a social justice one that such a curriculum will open up opportunities from which many children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, will otherwise be excluded.

Questions & comments from our delegates

Retired Headteacher

  • Dr Eaude’s argument for a balanced and broadly based curriculum is compelling. Moving forwards, is it possible for schools to work with the current National Curriculum Framework to achieve this? 
  • Do Academies, rather than Local Authority schools, have the most potential and freedom to develop such curriculum experiences?
  • Where (in England) is curriculum innovation to be found at present?
  • What is the National Association of Primary Education’s role in this argument?

As a student in my final year of an undergraduate course, I am currently working on an assignment about my own educational philosophy which very much aligns with Dr. Eaude’s Schiller speech. Embarking into my NQT year in September I know the best way to change this is starting in my own classroom. However big questions arise with that:

  • What can I do beyond that? If there is not enough support or like-minded colleagues,
  • How can I reach out to ensure this way of teaching the curriculum is opened up on to all the children in the community?
  • Where can I find more support?

For more information about Dr. Tony Eaude please visit his website https://edperspectives.org.uk/

More information about NAPE is available at https://nape.org.uk/

To find out more about Christian Schiller HMI please click on the link below

https://nape.org.uk/publications​

The Schiller Book, published by NAPE, ‘In His Own Words’, can be purchased for only £5.

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