the national curriculum
noun /ðə ˌnæʃnəl kəˈrɪkjələm/
/ðə ˌnæʃnəl kəˈrɪkjələm/
[singular]- (in England and Wales
英格兰和威尔士 （英国国立中小学）全国统一课程 Culture the National Curriculumthe National CurriculumThe National Curriculum was introduced in all state schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 1988. Children's education from 5 to 16 is divided into four key stages. Key stage 1 covers ages 5–7, key stage 2 ages 7–11, key stage 3 ages 11–14 and key stage 4 ages 14–16. English, mathematics, science, computing and physical education are compulsory at all key stages. Art and Design, Design and Technology, Geography, History and Music are compulsory at key stages 1, 2 and 3. Citizenship is compulsory at key stages 3 and 4. A modern foreign language is compulsory at key stages 2 and 3. Pupils may take several other subjects in addition to those that are compulsory. All schools must teach religious education at all key stages, and secondary schools must teach sex and relationship education. In Wales the Welsh language is also studied. Detailed information and advice about what children should be taught is given in official programmes of study. A disadvantage for teachers has been the increase in the number of documents they are expected to read and the reports they have to write. The National Curriculum does not apply in Scotland, where individual schools decide which subjects and topics to teach.Attainment targets are set within each subject and children's progress is checked at the ages of 7 and 11, when they complete National Curriculum Tests (NCTs). At the age of 16, at the end of key stage 4, pupils take GCSE exams, which are also based on material covered in the National Curriculum. Some children struggle to reach the required standard. If they have learning difficulties, they may be statemented, which means they are given an official document saying that they have special educational needs.The NCTs allow education authorities to compare standards between different schools. Since the National Curriculum was introduced many people have expressed doubts about the publication in the press of school league tables showing the relative performance of schools and about the increased competition.There is no national curriculum in the US. State governments are responsible for deciding the curriculum for primary and secondary schools. The curriculum is often the cause of debate between people who want to emphasize basic skills, such as reading, writing and mathematics, and others who see the curriculum as a political issue and want schools to teach respect for other cultures or history from the point of view of African Americans, or to offer less traditional topics.