National curriculum meaning

Note: Although the Academies Act 2010 (AcA 2010) extends to Wales, the provisions enabling the establishment of new academies or free schools are confined to England. Therefore, this Practice Note relates solely to England. One much‑touted benefit of an academy or free school, when compared with a maintained school, is a degree of autonomy in setting the curriculum. That freedom is not absolute, naturally, yet it is greater by comparison. That relativity remains worth remembering here. The curriculum generally AcA 2010, s 1A(1)(b) (as amended) obliges an academy or free school to meet the requirements in section 78 of the Education Act 2002 (EA 2002) (which would otherwise bite only on maintained schools): namely, a balanced and broadly based programme of study that fosters the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society, and prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life. The Model Funding Agreement for free schools typically adds a non‑statutory obligation...

The Basic Curriculum in England In England, the Basic Curriculum consists of three components: religious education sex education the National Curriculum Collective worship Each school day—though not always at the outset—pupils in maintained schools, including special schools, should take part in collective worship, either as a whole or in groups by age or school, and this is to happen on the school premises. On special occasions, the governing body, following consultation with the headteacher, may arrange for it to be held elsewhere...