New curriculum teaches pupils twice as much Shakespeare

Children will learn twice as much Shakespeare in schools under a new national curriculum that aims to revive more traditional schooling.

Pupils aged 11 to 14 will study two of the Bard’s works, instead of one, and look at the entire play, rather than focus on just one act or theme, as at present. Announcing the change on a visit to St Mary’s and St Johns CE School in north London, David Cameron said: “This is a curriculum to inspire a generation.”

The curriculum will start in September 2014. It reflects Education Secretary Michael Gove’s belief that lessons must be more essay-based, fact-laden and rigorous. Critics accused him of letting personal prejudices dictate what schools should teach.

In maths, children will learn their 12 times table by heart by the age of nine, and be taught basic fractions from age five. Currently times tables stop at 10.

In English, children should be able to spell “accommodate” and “rhythm” in primary school.

In history, primaries will teach from the Stone Age to the Normans. Children will learn about “significant individuals” including Elizabeth I, Neil Armstrong, Rosa Parks and suffragette Emily Davison. Secondaries will teach from 1066 to 1901; plus British, European and world events from 1901.

In science, the solar system and evolution to be taught in primaries. In secondaries, physics, biology and chemistry will be more separated. Climate change will be included.

In computing, pupils will learn to write code, and aged five to seven should “understand what algorithms are” and “create and debug simple programs”.

Mr Gove said the changes would help Britain keep pace pupils in booming countries like China and India. “No national curriculum can be modernised without paying close attention to what’s been happening in education internationally,” he said.

He cited Hong Kong, Massachusetts, Singapore and Finland as “the world’s most successful school systems”.

But unions slated the changes. Brian Lightman, of the ASCL head teachers’ union, warned: “One year to implement such ambitious proposals ... is a tall order.”

Mary Bousted, of the ATL union, claimed: “The timescales ... are completely unrealistic.”

Russell Hobby, of the NAHT, said: “It’s not all about creativity and it’s not all about facts and times tables”

Shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg said: “David Cameron and Michael Gove should have listened to the experts.”

Anthony Seldon, head of Wellington College, welcomed the tougher demands, saying: “Young people shouldn’t be patronised by work that is too easy.”