The Secondary Curriculum Design Handbook

Reviews / Votes

'For the first time, a book has been written which actually integrates analytical thinking about the nature of the Curriculum with practical curriculum design in secondary schools. It also weaves in a fundamental understanding of the links between the nature of learning and the curriculum. The low key nature of its title belies its aspirations. This is a book with a global reach which has world-class quality.' John Bangs, Honorary Research Associate at Cambridge University, UK, and former Head of Education at the NUT 'This handbook should be essential reading for all those who believe that the school curriculum is too constrained by national requirements and accountability processes. It is both practical and thought-provoking and encourages the reader to think beyond the box of custom and practice while placing the learner firmly at the centre of planning. It would be both useful and inspiring for anyone involved in curriculum planning in secondary schools.' Sue Kirkham, Education Policy Specialist, Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), UK 'At last, a book about curriculum design that tells it how it is. It's realistic about the difficulties involved, balances opportunities with pitfalls and doesn't indulge in starry-eyed promotion of one particular approach. The authors observe, 'Whatever the new National Curriculum says, it will be schools that interpret it into learning experiences for students.' They throw down that gauntlet to schools, and then take them helpfully and pragmatically through the stages of thinking necessary to the creation of a curriculum fit for, well, the 21st Century (having looked critically at the 20th Century one we follow, and identified its striking similarities to the 19th Century model!). A connected website provides a wealth of examples and timetable models. There is inspiration, too. The authors include a chapter of guidance on the vital but too often overlooked topic of 'making learning irresistible'. That's a challenge for all teachers - but furnishes a glimpse of a thrilling prospect, too, for those with the courage to face that challenge. This is truly a handbook, a volume to keep close to hand indeed, a 'must-have' for school leaders engaged in designing and building the curriculum.' Bernard Trafford, Headmaster, the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK