Curriculum Policy and Major Education Reports
New South Wales – Key Documents – the 2005 Context
Shaping their Future: Recommendations for Reform of the Higher School Certificate (McGaw Report) – 1997
- Follows the green paper Their Future: Options for the Reform of the Higher School Certificate.
- Includes 26 recommendations for reform: 1 in relation to the purpose of the HSC, 17 in relation to the curriculum, 6 in relation to assessment & reporting, 1 on selection for post-school destinations, and 1 relating to the membership of the Board of Studies.
- Sets out aims and objectives in three broad groupings: knowledge and understanding, skills, and attitudes and values.
- Recommends that the use of the 8 KLAs in the HSC be abandoned.
A Review of the HSC Assessment Program – 1998
- Follows the 1997 McGaw Report recommending changes to the HSC.
- Examines the use of school-based assessment as part of HSC credentialling.
- Discusses issues of validity and reliability.
- Is based on extensive survey research (as well as some qualitative research) undertaken by the Board of Studies.
- Recommends that the school-based assessment be retained as part of the HSC.
K-10 Curriculum Framework – 2002
- Sets out parameters for the compulsory years curriculum and outlines principles to guide the development and implementation of syllabuses.
- Stresses the importance of consistency and coherence across the curriculum.
- Outlines the principles which underpin syllabuses and syllabus development.
- Acknowledges that learning should build on previous learning.
- Identifies 12 ‘broad learning outcomes’.
- Identifies as core ‘essential knowledge, skills and understanding, values and attitudes'.
- Refers to eight key learning areas.
- Nominates nine subjects that must be studies as part of the School Certificate.