What would you add to National Curriculum ?

Basic human biology, for all abilities, that's not offered as 'science' or leads to an exam. Most people seem to have a very sketchy idea, (or no idea at all) of how their body works and how all the body's systems are linked. Healthy living would be taught alongside that so people have the opportunity to make informed decisions about eating, drinking, exercise, safe sex, drug taking etc. For example, the (simple) structure and function of the lungs, their direct connection to the blood circulatory system that visits every cell in the body, the effects of smoking and vaping reaching every cell in the body, why smokers cough etc. Then there's the function of the gut, food groups and the connection with a healthy diet. Etc. etc....

When I went to secondary school we had sewing lessons once per week but we made a skirt then a blouse. We also had music lessons where I heard some lovely classical recordings - loved the peace! Disliked it when we had group singing (always same olde worlde songs). We also had a double housecraft lesson one day per week (girls only) boys did wood or metalwork. My mother had already taught me to starch, iron, make bread, pastry, custard, Christmas cakes etc etc and I longed to do woodwork but it wasn't permitted! We had one boy who had managed to join the housecraft group,the Head listened to my request & my reasoning but still refused me. My dad was a Brickie & grandad an engineering fitter so I grew up handling tools & wanting to learn more but tradition got in the way.
By the time my eldest son went to high school they were teaching mixed classes how to make pizza (from packet mixes), then the kitchens were ripped out to make classrooms as schools were closed and amalgamated.
I think basic first aid should be taught. And debating. My 3 children all learned a lot & gained confidence through being involved in scouts, guides, St.John cadets & D of E. And they have all had to use their first aid skills many times as children and now adults.
In many homes now things just aren't being taught to the next generation as they used to be in my childhood. So much reliance on ready meals, pressure on parents & grandparents to work etc. Reading abilities in many cases have taken a real knock (I volunteer at a school & see this first hand) I'm also painfully aware that there are some parents who cannot 'see the point' of reading not consider it their job as parents to teach their own children any skills!

Primary and Secondary age appropriate level:
First listening to music - world music, classical, opera, to show them what’s out there. Even if only 1 hr week.
Morality - eg the Virtues project
Basic cookery/ nutrition/ keeping the body healthy ( exercise, cleanliness, etc)
Baby/ toddler care, toilet training.
Basic sewing/ mending.
Handling money/ budgeting.
Civic government, economics.

Could pensioners be used to teach these things with a teacher/ assistant in the room to keep control and to meet safeguarding requirements?

First aid including CPR should be taught. Basic life skills, money management, healthy cooking. I know some parents teach these last two, but so many don't bother/have time.

I would add BSL (british sign language) so many deaf children feel left out because people cannot speak to them. I was brought up in a Deaf family and learned sign language as a second language and it has been useful when I have met deaf people who have been trying to communicate with hearing people, also every if a deaf person is in hospital, as I found out when my Mum was in, they can feel isolated because they have no-one to speak too. I hope this makes sense.

1. Common Sense
2. Politeness
3. Conversation
4. Lessons in the art of Job Interviews
5. Finances
6. Not being so quick to judge
7. Living WITHOUT Social Media

Just a few that spring to mind, living across the road from an Academy, and having a Primary School on the doorstep also, I dread the start time of the school day and then the finishing time, when all you hear is screaming (sure we didn't scream that much when younger!) the other part of that being you don't know if the screaming is because of attack or just because they can.....

I never did any domestic science after primary school and then it was merely sewing, embroidery and making samplers.

However, I have managed to feed a family, make clothes, soft furnishings, knit, crochet, grow vegetables, decorate etc etc by reading the instructions.

I feel sorry for today's teachers. They are supposed to be teachers and take over parental responsibilities.

1. Critical thinking. 2. How Government works ( central and local ). 3. Political theory ( at the least an understanding of differences between capitalism communism and socialism) . 4. The social construct of war. These issues are fundamental to all our lives.

Yes, they could teach them not to scream magshard!

Id start in year 2 Primary School with Critial Thinking / Cooking / First Aid / Basic DIY using real tools

I'd like to add critical thinking.

Children should be taught how to evaluate sources of news and tell news from fake news. They should compare newspapers, tv and radio, online news websites and social media, looking at what they report the different ways they might cover the same story.

They need to be taught to question news sources and tell fact from opinion. They should learn to ask who or what is behind the way a story is told and what is the agenda of the people or organisations with money, power and influence.

They should discuss the question of bias. For instance the fact that both right wing and left wing politicians and their supporters accuses the BBC of being biased in the opposite direction does not prove that the BBC is unbiased.

Above all they need to understand how to read surveys and statistics. They do not need to study mathematical statistics and probability theory in depth but they ought to question sources, look for loaded questions and understand that a properly conducted survey of a large random sample of a population will yield information which is much more reliable than selective anecdotal accounts.

Politicians have found they can manipulate voters far more effectively by playing on emotions, especially negative emotions, rather than arguing for evidence based policies and this is all the more dangerous if voters have never been taught critical thinking.

I would add more sensory time for all children. Let them get their hands dirty and play with different materials. I would also like to see more 1:1 time with children, just time to actually talk to them and see if they are struggling with anything. More stress relief in the curriculum basically x

Or stress management x

Varian
Pupils are taught in English lessons (and in Media, but not all take that)
how to evaluate sources of news and tell news from fake news
to compare newspapers, tv and radio, online news websites and social media, to look at what they report the different ways they might cover the same story.

In maths
they discuss the question of bias
how to read surveys and statistics, to question sources, look for loaded questions, random sampling and the importance of the size of the sample

Definitely bring back proper cookery lessons. Preparing and cooking food from scratch.

Also, needlework lessons.
I remember having to sew and make my own apron and hat before I was allowed in the school kitchen. It took me a while, but got there in the end.
What happened to woodwork classes I wonder.
A bit sexist I guess, as boys in my day did that, and girls did needlework and cookery.
Let’s revise the curriculum and have all pupils learning this stuff.
The emphasis is too much on academia. Not enough on the practicalities needed in life.

More useful lessons like the ones suggested here could replace idiotic ones like learning about Bob Marley like my grandson is doing at the moment. What possible use is that going to be in his future? Most certainly they should learn how to 'make do and mend' (environmentally friendly after all) and make nutritionally sound meals, not cakes that they practically have to do all the preparation for at home anyway.

I am glad to hear that Chardy but I question whether this happens at every school. If it is part of the national curriculum, what age are children introduced to these ideas?

The National Curriculum is on line so you may access it to discover which years these ideas are introduced and also repeated.

MINDFULNESS - if kids were taught how to unwind and cope with stress, anxiety maybe there would be less need to turn to drugs/drink etc if they had the correct tools to help with their mental wellbeing.
BSL - British Sign Language, so useful for communication with deaf/HoH, disabled, even babies are having sign language classes now, should be on the national curriculum.

Human biology for starters. I thought sex education involving contraception info was already included but given the number of unplanned pregnancies being mentioned in social media sites the subject surely isn't.
A lot of the subjects already mentioned should be undertaken by parents but again are not. An assessment of "lifeskills" should be undertaken and those lacking should be addressed on a compulsory basis out with school hours by voluntary organisations with gov. funding. Diction/elecution lessons too would be useful but not to the old BBC standard, as I am tired listening to nothing but mumbling coming from teenagers.

Budgeting

Preparation of meals

First aid

Conversation

keep fit

Stress management

I wonder how many posters on here actually know what is taught in schools today? I was married to a secondary school teacher, have teachers in the family and it’s not that long ago that my own children were at school, so I know what was taught then, and what is being taught now. Money management is taught during maths and civics/ general studies lessons. All children learn the art of expressing themselves clearly, cogent argument and debate as part of the English Language curriculum, and another part of the curriculum deals with critical thinking: evaluating news reports etc. (The much- maligned media studies does this in depth.)Personal and social education deals with how to manage emotions, healthy living, mindfulness etc. Physical Education involves sports, games and keeping fit, and the effects of exercise on the body. Politeness cannot be taught, it is an attitude which is constantly stressed. Girls and boy can learn woodwork, textiles, including sewing and repairs, and home economics: not just cooking, but healthy eating and budgeting. (The reason why pizza mix is used is because the length of a lesson would not allow for complete preparation including proving.)
Here is a link to the English National Curriculum site:
www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum
And the Scottish:
www.gov.scot/policies/schools/school-curriculum/
And Welsh:
gov.wales/curriculum-and-assessment

Staffing would be the main stumbling block. You can’t magic up teachers to teach all of those things, laudable and eminently useful though they are.

What would you take out of the curriculum to replace with the things you want?

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the school day finishes early. Staff meetings, department meetings, year meetings, homework club, sports clubs, fixtures, outside agency meetings, all have to be fitted in and then the children will have homework to do and the teachers will have planning and preparation.

I would like the children to be taught good manners and to be respectful.

Basic first aid and swimming