Schools: Curriculum and PSHE Reviews Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Schools: Curriculum and PSHE Reviews

Lord Flight Excerpts
Wednesday 27th April 2011

(13 years, 7 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Hill of Oareford Portrait Lord Hill of Oareford
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I agree with my noble friend. I know how knowledgeable and passionate she is in this area, like the noble Baroness, Lady Massey of Darwen. I will continue to look to my noble friend’s advice as we go forward on this.

Lord Flight Portrait Lord Flight
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My Lords, are the Government considering including financial literacy as an obligatory element of the national curriculum? It seems to me that it is an essential skill for citizens going forward in this country.

Lord Hill of Oareford Portrait Lord Hill of Oareford
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My Lords, generally we are keen to ensure that the national curriculum is as little overloaded as possible because we believe that one should make space in the school day for important subjects such as financial literacy. PSHE would be another good example. That is why we are trying to simplify and reduce the burden of the national curriculum, to leave schools more discretion and time to decide on the subjects they want to teach and the best and most appropriate way to do so, knowing their children.