Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Written Ministerial Statement of 19 October 2016, HCWS203, what process was used to determine the benchmarks for the primary national curriculum.

The design of the new National Curriculum, first taught from September 2014, was based upon a thorough analysis of the curricula of the best performing education jurisdictions around the world, including Finland, Singapore and Massachusetts.

During the review of the National Curriculum, the expert panel chaired by Tim Oates, advised on the principles and framework for the National Curriculum, drawing on international evidence. The programmes of study were developed by Department for Education officials working with subject experts to ensure that they matched the standards expected of children in the highest performing jurisdictions. New content was designed in consultation with a range of experts including subject specialists, teachers, representatives from Ofsted, learned societies and others.

This benchmarking was vital in the drive to raise standards in primary schools, particularly in mathematics and English, to ensure that children were well prepared for the next stage of their education. The report is available at the following link https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/184064/DFE-RR178.pdf

On 7 February 2013, the Department for Education launched a formal consultation on the draft programmes of study for all National Curriculum subjects. The consultation ended on 16 April 2013. The Government response to the consultation was published in July 2013: https://www.education.gov.uk/consultations/downloadableDocs/NC%20in%20England%20consultation%20report%20-%20FINAL%20-%20Accessible.pdf