The Department for Education has announced the following: 

Q and A - curriculum

When will the next steps be announced?

We will announce the next steps shortly.

What will the new curriculum look like?

We intend to restore the National Curriculum to its original purpose - a minimum national entitlement for all our young people organised around subject disciplines. 

Ministers are committed to giving schools more freedom from unnecessary prescription and bureaucracy. Ministers have always made clear their intentions to make changes to the National Curriculum, to ensure a relentless focus on the basics and to give teachers more flexibility than the proposed new primary curriculum offered.

What happens in the meantime?

The existing subject-based National Curriculum requirement will remain in force for primary schools. The current framework, introduced in 2000, provides flexibility for schools to adapt the curriculum to their needs.

Will primary schools still be getting an additional training day in 2010/11?

Yes. Primary schools teaching Key Stages 1 and 2 will still receive an extra non-contact day in 2010/11 to help them prepare adequately for the next school year and consider new approaches.

Why have you sent out handbooks?

That decision was taken by the previous Government. They proposed to introduce a new primary curriculum from September 2011 and put in place a programme of support and guidance for schools from January this year. The new Government has decided not to go ahead with this policy for the reasons set out in the Minister's statement to Parliament.

Will schools be reimbursed for any costs they have incurred?

Schools that purchased additional curriculum handbooks and guidance or copies of the proposed new level descriptors will be automatically reimbursed by the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA).

Will this mean the end of Key Stage 2 tests?

No. Key Stage 2 results are a robust and consistent source of information for parents at a crucial transition point for their child as they move on to secondary school. Tests at 11 mark the end of primary school for each pupil, and it is right that we have a consistent and externally validated view of individual pupils' progress at that time.

Important information on the primary curriculum and Key Stage 3 level descriptions

The previous Government accepted recommendations put forward by Sir Jim Rose to implement a new primary curriculum from September 2011. Ministers announced today that the Government does not intend to proceed with the new primary curriculum.

Ministers are committed to giving schools more freedom from unnecessary prescription and bureaucracy. They have always made clear their intentions to make changes to the National Curriculum that will ensure a relentless focus on the basics and give teachers more flexibility than the proposed new primary curriculum offered.

The Government intends to return the National Curriculum to its intended purpose - a minimum national entitlement organised around subject disciplines - and will shortly announce its next steps.

In the meantime, the existing primary curriculum will continue to be in force in 2011/12 and schools should plan on that basis.

Ministers have also decided not to proceed with the revised level descriptions which were due to come into force for Key Stage 3 from this September. Secondary schools should therefore continue to use existing level descriptions.

Information on the Department's website will be updated as announcements are made and more detail is available. Please visit www.education.gov.uk/curriculum for the latest news and answers to your questions. 

Restrictions on teaching iGCSEs lifted

Today ministers lifted restrictions that have stopped state schools offering iGCSE qualifications in key subjects. Ministers also announced their intention to include iGCSE results in school performance tables as soon as possible.

Until now, only independent schools have been able to offer iGCSEs in English, maths, science and ICT. A number of state schools expressed interest in offering these exams, but they were prevented from doing so.

By removing the red tape around iGCSEs and approving them for use and funding in state maintained schools, ministers have signalled that heads should be given greater power to choose the qualifications that best meet the needs of their students as well as the demands of employers and universities.

Schools interested in offering iGCSEs can contact the relevant awarding organisations directly. Once qualifications are approved for use in maintained schools, they are listed at www.dcsf.gov.uk/section96/.

Note: Qualifications will be approved on this list under their accredited title - which is "Certificate" for those qualifications already accredited.

Development of new 'academic' Diplomas stops

Ministers also announced today that development of new Diplomas in science, humanities and languages, which were due to be introduced from September 2011, will stop immediately.

Ministers said that it was not the role of Government to force the development of new Diplomas in humanities, sciences and languages. Stopping "phase four" - or "academic" - Diplomas will help refocus efforts on tried and tested qualifications in these subject areas. Today's announcement on new Diplomas does not affect students who are currently studying or applying for the first 14 Diplomas.