4 Core Purposes

You’ve probably heard all about it - Wales is rolling out its new curriculum. 

We believe that this new, unique curriculum will be a good change, and we want to share with you why it’s happening. 

In 2015, the Minister of Education commissioned a man called Professor Graham Donaldson to review the curriculum, and after his research he came up with a new curriculum that he believed would better serve primary school children.  

The previous curriculum was based on ideas from 1988, before the internet was such a big part of our lives. The world has become more connected, cultures growing closer, but the previous curriculum didn’t reflect this. 

Donaldson understands that a new curriculum can be daunting for parents; it’s much easier to understand how your child is progressing in school when they are following a similar path to you. However, he believes that as times change, so should the curriculum to reflect this. 

He believes children should understand how to problem solve and learn rather than just study a syllabus. Children should love to read, rather than just learn it. They should be able to apply what they learn outside of the classroom and enjoy it in the process. The new curriculum has been described as more inclusive, ambitious and unified. 

Donaldson is also interested in how the Welsh language is taught in schools. He believes that Welsh should be used in everyday conversation rather than just in the learning environment. 

With the new curriculum, children are learning skills and competences. Children will understand why they are learning and how they can apply it to their daily life. The new curriculum is also more up to date with current digital technology, with the opportunity for children to use a variety of different programs and apps to get a better understanding of the digital world. 

The new curriculum is based around 4 core purposes. These are: 

• Ambitious, capable learners who are ready to learn throughout their lives. 

• Enterprising, creative contributors who are ready to play a full part in life and work. 

• Ethical, informed citizens who are ready to be citizens of Wales and the world. 

• Healthy, confident individuals who are ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society. 

We have created our very own LPS Learning Journal that outlines what the four core purposes cover and helps the children understand how they are learning and what their targets are. We have more information on our website about the new curriculum, as well as slides from our weekly assemblies.