ABSTRACT
Prior to the introduction of the National Curriculum alternative curriculum scheme abounded in British secondary schools. Once the National Curriculum was introduced, most innovative alternative curriculum schemes ceased overnight. During 1999, the DfES began to reconsider its position with regard to alternative curriculum strategies through Circular 10/99. This Circular was the first to allow schools to begin to disapply parts of the National Curriculum whether for reasons of pupils’ special needs, disaffection or ethnicity. For example, section 4.24 states that:
If staff consider that it would help a pupil to concentrate for several weeks on areas of particular weakness, this can happen without formal disapplication although staff will need to comply with the programmes of study.
