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Press Release

Voice welcomes Rose Primary Review

30 April 2009

Voice: the union for education professionals has welcomed the main findings of the Review of the Primary Curriculum published today (30 April 2009).

General Secretary Philip Parkin said: "Voice will study the report in detail but, as with the interim report in December, we would welcome a broader curriculum with a more flexible approach to learning.

"A move away from the current, sometimes prescriptive, subject-based teaching could offer much more flexible and engaging ways of teaching and learning. However, today's teachers – trained to deliver discrete curriculum subjects – would need considerable retraining to move to this method.

"In many cases, given the current school starting age, allowing a September start to school for younger pupils could be helpful – provided that they have an appropriate play-based, experiential curriculum. We are very concerned about children beginning a formal academic education too early in order to satisfy the demands of an inappropriate testing regime. Children are individuals and vary greatly in their academic development and readiness for formal learning. A later start to formal education remains our preferred option.

"The emphasis on technology in the report is welcome. Computers and Internet access are essential tools that define how we learn, communicate and work.

"However, I remain concerned about the possible effects of wi-fi networks in schools. Voice is advocating a precautionary approach – that new wi-fi systems should not be installed and that existing systems should be turned off when not required.

"Primary/infant/nursery schools in particular should consider whether they need and should retain such systems if they already have them, and should consider hard-wired alternatives wherever possible.

"Wi-fi should really be for adults to access the Internet on the move rather than as a convenient alternative to cables in dedicated IT facilities. Serious and sustained scientific research is needed to establish conclusive facts about the potential long-term effects on children."



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Voice: the union for education professionals

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