A Flexible Curriculum 

A flexible curriculum is vital if the benefits offered by tracking, intervention and tuition are going to be realised. Personalised learning will be supported through initiatives such as:

• A reform of the secondary Key Stage 3 curriculum - ensuring less detail and prescribed content and more emphasis on developing in-depth understanding of key ideas and practice of particular subjects;
• New programmes of study to encourage schools to make connections across events and activities;
• New 14-19 diplomas of more tailored pathways and supporting new curriculum design in schools generally through the National College for School leadership and the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust;
• The use of ICT is providing innovative ways to engage learners and improve standards of achievement.

Additionally, schools may wish to consider the following examples of strategies to make their curriculum more personalised:

• Exploring learning-focused (rather than content-focused) to promote 'real' learning situations that simulate virtual situations;
• Exploring project-based approaches to the curriculum rather than discrete, one-off lessons. This also breaks down the potential constraints of subject-specific teaching;
• Using the curriculum to support a set of skills rather than as an end in itself, matching the aims of the National Curriculum to the areas of their learning profile;
• Using ICT to help pupils manage their own learning, such as through a virtual learning environment whereby pupils can communicate with staff more freely.