A New school curriculum will lead to inspiring learning opportunities for the Island’s 12,000 pupils. The Department of Education and Children launched Essentials for Learning at training days across all 40 schools this month. It’s the first major revision of how pupils learn since 2006, when the Department published its Curriculum for Learning and Achievement. ‘Essentials for Learning was created after extensive consultation with teachers and headteachers,’ explained Geoff Moorcroft, School Improvement Adviser, who has headed the working group behind it. ‘The Island benefits from massive freedoms when compared to the UK and these give schools the chance to teach in innovative ways. ‘Schools told us they wanted less prescription of the specific content of their curriculum but needed support and clarity about the principles that should underpin it,’ Geoff said. The process of re-writing the curriculum began a year ago when the working group, which includes DEC representatives, headteachers and class teachers, began meeting to consider research, examine ideas from other jurisdictions and discuss how best to support schools. ‘The resulting framework incorporates much of this new thinking while retaining many traditional elements, including a clear commitment to reflecting Manx history and culture,’ Geoff explained. ‘The curriculum will provide the most up-to-date materials to teachers, who will be able to create inspiring, memorable learning opportunities for pupils.’ Remaining central to the curriculum are the dispositions pupils need to succeed, both in school and in later life, known as the 6Rs: - Readiness for learning - Relationships which are positive - Resourcefulness - Resilience - Remembering skills - Reflectiveness ‘The document takes advantage of new media and has been created as a wiki, accessible to all teaching and support staff,’ Geoff continued. ‘Hopefully, this will mean it is more user-friendly and is able to respond quickly to developments within the rapidly changing world of education.’ The wiki contains a range of support materials for schools, including a wealth of reading material, PowerPoints, links to other websites and wikis and audit tools. ‘The training this month has allowed staff to familiarise themselves with Essentials for Learning and spend time considering how best to reflect its principles within their schools,’ Geoff said. Adrian Shorthouse, Headteacher of Scoill Vallajeelt and a member of the working group, said: ‘Essentials for Learning will influence every school’s curriculum on the Isle of Man as they develop in the years to come. Schools continue to have Freedom to Flourish and this framework will support them in facilitating the best opportunities that will inspire every pupil to flourish.’ Graeme Corrin, Deputy Headteacher at Ramsey Grammar School, who is also on the working group, said: ‘Essentials for Learning integrates guidance and references so that teachers are supported, yet encouraged to be innovative, creative and inspiring within their specific school context. All the principles that we believe to be important, and to which we remain committed, are drawn together and pupils will benefit from learning experiences that are based on these shared beliefs.’ Parents can visit the Essentials for Learning wiki at https://www2.sch.im/e4l/ Ends