You may wish to download and refer to this timeline document as you consider how to prioritise the changes needed to your planning and teaching as a result of the new programmes of study:
Time line for change (183.16 KB)
The new curriculum at Key Stage 3 will be first tested in 2011. So those most obviously affected are the Year 7 pupils starting in September 2008. It would be sensible to prioritise planning reviews of units in Year 7.
However, pupils starting Year 8 in September 2008 will be involved in the first assessment of the new Key Stage 4 curriculum in 2012. These pupils will also be assessed in functional mathematics and, to gain grade C or better at GCSE, they must achieve functional mathematics at level 2. This suggests that increasing the focus on key processes in Year 8 and Year 9 would build a secure foundation for functional skills at Key Stage 4. As you work to incorporate the key processes into unit plans in Year 7, it may be sensible to consider adjustments to equivalent units in Year 8.
As part of your implementation plan, aim to make practical steps towards developing your planning and teaching so that pupils' experience of mathematics learning is in line with the aims of the new curriculum. Some principles of effective learning and teaching have been collected together as guidance on Teaching and learning approaches (379.72 KB).
Further detail is available to support Planning using the Framework for secondary mathematics.
