The Australian Curriculum
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) is responsible for:
- The development of a national curriculum from Foundation to Year 12 in specified learning areas
- Management of a national assessment program that measures students' progress
- A national data collection and reporting program that supports:
- analysis, evaluation, research and resource allocation
- accountability and reporting on schools.
NT Australian Curriculum updates
The Foundation - Year 10 Curriculum
On 8 December 2010, Australian education ministers endorsed the content for Foundation to Year 10 Phase 1 learning areas of English, mathematics, science and history. All ministers also agreed to substantial implementation of Phase 1 learning areas by 2013. Foundation in the Australian Curriculum refers to the year before Year 1. In the Northern Territory this year of schooling is called Transition.
Phase 1 of the Australian Curriculum is published online and available at www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/Home. The curriculum is specifically designed to be accessed online. It incorporates a range of features that will enable teachers to view and filter the curriculum.
Phase 2 learning areas currently under development include geography, languages and the arts. Phase 3 learning areas include health and physical education, technologies (comprising ICT and design and technology), civics and citizenship and business and economics. Implementation timelines for Phase 2 and 3 Australian Curriculum learning areas are still to be determined by education ministers.
Implementation of the Australian Curriculum in the NT
Whilst ACARA is responsible for the development of the national curriculum, implementation is the responsibility of each state and territory.
Timelines
The Northern Territory Board of Studies (NTBOS) endorsed the following implementation timelines for Phase 1 of the Australian Curriculum in Northern Territory schools for students in Transition to Year 10:
- English and mathematics –implement by beginning of Semester 2 2012;
- Science and history –implement by beginning of Semester 2 2013.
While NT schools are transitioning to the F-10 Australian Curriculum the intended curriculum will be a combination of the Australian Curriculum and the Northern Territory Curriculum Framework/ Year 10 curriculum.
The Northern Territory Curriculum Achievement Standards (pdf 294 kb | word 106 kb) have been developed to support Northern Territory schools to have a consistent assessment and reporting framework that aligns with the Australian Curriculum.
All Northern Territory students will be assessed and reportied on their learning for Australian Curriculum English and mathematics Semester 2 2012 using the Australian Curriculum English and mathematics achievement standards. Students will be assessed and reported on their learning using NT achievement standards for all other learning areas.
Resourcing
A range of resources and services have been developed to support schools with implementation including online information and professional learning modules.
A range of materials designed to assist schools to implement the Australian Curriculum are available on the Learning Links portal. Curriculum, Teaching and Phases of Learning Division (CTPOL) will work with regional curriculum teams to support schools to implement the Australian Curriculum.
The Senior Years team will work directly with schools to support the implementation of the Year 10 Australian Curriculum.
Contacts
Curriculum, Teaching and Phases of Learning Division
t: (08) 8944 9200
e: ntbos@nt.gov.au