ABSTRACT

The curriculum guidance documents advocate very strongly the use of team approaches to planning and implementing the cross-curricular themes. The notion of teamwork addresses those specific characteristics of organisational health which are summed up as communication adequacy, optimal power equalisation, resource utilisation, cohesiveness, morale and problem-solving adequacy. Planning and implementing the cross-curricular themes can be organized into three teams: a 'think-tank', a 'development team' and a 'piloting team'. The development team carries out the specific curriculum planning. It makes recommendations to the think-tank about timetabling, curriculum content, resourcing, further planning, implementation and evaluation of the innovation. It is important that the overall leader should have the subject knowledge of the cross-curricular themes as well as proven expertise in curriculum development. The commonality of purpose which makes for strong within-team bonds can also lead to protectionism, factions and competition between teams. The management of such a large innovation as the cross-curricular themes requires a co-ordinated approach.