A Cautionary Tale: What are the signs telling us? Curriculum versus standards reflected in schools planning

Abstract

The revised New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) was introduced in 2007 and seen as an opportunity for schools and communities to work together to provide a curriculum that reflected local needs. The NZC identifies learning areas which provide students with the foundation on which they can develop and later specialise. It would be expected that this broad base would be reflected in schools’ Charters and Strategic or Annual Plans. A small scale initial investigation reviewing documentation for 2012 of 16 schools was undertaken. The resulting review identified that the schools’ plans focussed primarily on National Standards. There was limited identification of specific Learning Areas other than Literacy and Numeracy in regards to school targets, professional development, budget or school priorities. This review raises the concern that predictions that the impact of the National Standards being implemented within New Zealand schools would narrow the school curriculum is becoming a reality.