New syllabuses in NSW public schools An introduction

1. New syllabusesin NSW public schools An introduction August 2012

2. Key questions • Why have a new curriculum in NSW? • What will the new syllabuses look like? • How will teachers and schools be supported? • Where to from here?

3. Activity 1 What do you know? What do you need to know?

4. Whyhave a new curriculumin NSW?

5. Why? • Up-to-date K-10 curriculum for English, mathematics, science and history • Opportunity to develop syllabuses that: • emphasise a continuum of learning • are consistent and current • incorporate cross-curriculum areas • encourage new approaches to learning • Alignment of NSW content with the Australian Curriculum

6. Advantages for NSW • National resource sharing for quality and efficiency • A learning entitlement for all Australian students regardless of what school they attend or where it is located • Continuity for the 80 000 students and many teachers who move interstate each year

7. Whatwill the new syllabuses look like?

8. The draft NSW K-10 syllabuses • The Board of Studies NSW has developed draft K-10 syllabuses for English, mathematics, science and history. • NSW school teachers will only need to teach in accordance with the new K-10 syllabus documents developed for NSW. • The Board advises all schools to continue to use the existing NSW K-12 syllabuses for 2012 and 2013.

9. Implementation timeline Support materials developed Familiarise and plan Implement Optional Implement Optional Implement Optional Implement Years 7, 9 Years 7, 8, 9, 10 Source: Board of Studies NSW

10. What will stay the same as current NSW syllabuses? • Syllabus structure: • Rationale • Aims • Objectives • Outcomes • Content • Stage Statements • Stage-based organisation • Life Skills outcomes and content for Years 7-10

11. What will be different from current NSW syllabuses? • Some Learning Area-specific changes in content and organisation • Availability of an interactive online version • More detailed information is available in the companion presentations found on CLIC’s Australian Curriculum website.

12. Learning across the curriculum Learning across the curriculum: • is embedded in the descriptions of content as appropriate • addresses issues, perspectives and policies that will assist students to achieve broad learning outcomes • takes account of the general capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities in the Australian Curriculum.

13. Learning across the Curriculum Click to activate

14. Learning across the curriculum– example Learning across the curriculum areas are embedded in the content and indicated in square brackets Cross-curriculum areas are embedded in the content and indicated in square brackets

15. Interactive online format The new draft syllabuses are available in an interactive format organised either by: or

16. K – 10 Draft Syllabuses

17. What will be different for each Syllabus? • Information about each NSW draft syllabus is available in a PowerPoint presentation on the CLIC website • Each presentation • Outlines the key features of the draft syllabus • Provides details for both K–6 and 7–10 • Can be used for curriculum team discussions

18. What is new in English K-10?‣ K-6 • Objectives and outcomes derive from the current 7-10 syllabus; intended as a means of linking the K-6 and 7-10 components of the syllabus • Stronger focus on: • viewing, representing and visual literacy • multimodal texts • comprehension strategies (Stages 2-3) • the study of literature • students creating own literary texts (Stages 2-3) • New focus on: • appreciation of the English language • text requirements • texts from different cultures, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Asian texts • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural concepts • supporting students for whom English is an additional dialect.

19. What is new in English K-10?‣ 7-10 • Subtle but important changes in objectives and outcomes • More explicit focus on: • grammar • complex forms of punctuation • comprehension strategies. • New focus on: • consolidation of handwriting skills in Stage 4 • conventions for citing and referencing • spelling and word origins • appreciation of the English language • Asian texts • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural concepts • English as an Additional Dialect (EAD) students. • For more information see the separate English presentation

20. What is new in Mathematics K-10? • K-6 • Movement of Stage 4 content into Stage 3 • Changes to Working Mathematically • 7-10 • Some Stage 5 content in Stage 4 • Changes to Working Mathematically • For more information see the separate Mathematics presentation

21. What is new in Science and Technology K-6 and Science 7-10? • Science and Technology K-6 • more content • the strand Material World is new – includes foundations of chemistry and explores properties and uses of materials • emphasis on teaching and learning through processes of Working Scientifically and Working Technologically • Science 7-10 • simpler structure, with previous syllabus’ Prescribed Focus Areas now embedded in content • the skills strand, Working Scientifically, to be taught within each unit of work • For more information see the separate Science presentation

22. What is new in History K-10? • K-6 • An emphasis on teaching historical inquiry and skills • The use of specified topics and content • 7-10 • Overview and depth studies approach • Increased flexibility of content delivery in Stage 5 • For more information see the separate History presentation

23. Activity 2 Exploring the syllabuses What features of the new syllabuses support quality teaching in each learning area? How will you need to modify your teaching and learning programs? What support would you most value?

24. How will teachers and schools be supported?

25. Support for schools • Initial syllabus support materials will be provided by the Board of Studies as part of the syllabus release. • The Department of Education and Communities will support syllabus implementation in public schools with professional learning together with teaching and learning resources that provide: • leadership support for principals • subject/stage support for curriculum leaders and classroom teachers.

26. Roles in curriculum change • STATE OFFICE • Provides resources including: • professional learning modules • guides, templates and samples • teaching and learning resources • action planning resources • collaboration and communication tools. • SCHOOL • develops a whole-school action plan for professional learning, updating teaching and learning programs, teaching and learning resources etc. • implements the syllabuses • REGION • Leads support for schools including: • school leadership development • assisting collaboration between schools. WHOLE SCHOOL Roles in curriculum change STATE OFFICE REGION

27. How can schools make a start? • Begin planning for implementation of the new syllabuses • Include preparation for implementation in school plans. • Collaborate with colleagues in your own and other schools through learning areas, cross-curriculum areas and stages of learning. • Watch for the latest news on these websites: • NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre • Board of Studies NSW

28. Activity 3 – Reflection What have you learnt? What more do you need to know?

29. Where to from here?

30. Senior secondary curriculum • ACARA has developed draft senior secondary Australian Curriculum in the four learning areas of English, mathematics, science and history. For more information, see the Australian Curriculum development page of the NSW CLIC website. • Until further notice NSW teachers are to continue teaching current NSW syllabuses for senior secondary courses.

31. Australian Curriculum development: Phase 2 • Information on curriculum development and timelines can be found on the ACARA website for • Geography • Languages • The Arts • The NSW Board of Studies will incorporate the Australian Curriculum in these areas when developing the NSW syllabuses.

32. Australian Curriculum development: Phase 3 • See the ACARA website for information on other learning areas including • Health and Physical Education • Technologies (including information and communication technology and design and technology) • Business/Economics • Civics and Citizenship • ACARA has published draft Shape Papers in Health and Physical Education and Technologies. More information can be found on the development page of NSW CLIC’s website.

33. Need more information?

34. Resources • CLIC’s Australian Curriculum website • NSW Board of Studies website