ABSTRACT
A key motivator of educational change is the curriculum mandated by the state. Internationally, curriculum reform is a major ongoing project as nations endeavour to improve student learning outcomes in a globally competitive environment. In the UK, for example, the National Curriculum is being significantly revised in order to identify the essential knowledge that students need to acquire and to provide greater autonomy to teachers and schools. In the USA, Common Core State Standards are being adopted by the majority of states in an effort to provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn in order to succeed in further education and careers and to compete in the global economy. In Australia, a national curriculum is in the process of implementation, following several attempts in the past. This chapter will focus on the Australian experience, as it throws up several issues confronting other countries as they grapple with curriculum reform and innovation. In particular, it will consider issues involved in the development of the English curriculum – and more specifically, the area of ‘knowledge about language’ (KAL) at the primary level.
