Primary pupils could be rated on lifestyle in lessons shake-up

Primary schools could assess children on healthy lifestyles and attitudes towards sex, instead of traditional academic subjects, under a radical plan by ministers.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls has ordered an overhaul that is expected to see the number of subjects slashed to make room for "concept-based" lessons.

The review team said many teachers and parents believed the new primary curriculum should give children's "personal development" equal status to English and maths.

Former Ofsted director of inspection Sir Jim Rose is leading the project and is due to send his interim report to Mr Balls next month.

The Schools Secretary ordered the review to examine whether primary education should be slimmed down, with more room for play for five- to seven-yearolds. The final plan could mean an end to separate lessons in history, geography, music, design and technology, and RE.

Officials conducted 60 seminars across England earlier this year, involving 1,500 teachers, council staff, parents and pupils. The report on the events said literacy, numeracy and personal development were seen as three crucial pillars for the new curriculum.

"Delegates recognised that personal development must be the central driver of planning and accepted that skills, values and attitudes needed to be integrated, taught discreetly and also permeate the whole of learning. There was a majority view that personal development should be assessed and reported to parents," the report says.

Aspects of personal development that were important for children to learn included "healthy lifestyles, sex and relationships education, drugs and alcohol education, philosophy, self-esteem and helping children to understand multiple cultural identities".

Primary school had become too crowded with academic subjects, delegates said.

The secondary curriculum for 11- to 14-year-olds has already been reformed to make it more flexible. Such a plan for primary schools would delight many in the teaching unions. Mick Brookes, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "The topic-based approach was excellent primary practice for many years. Subjects don't come in boxes. Our geography affects our history and putting these together seems to me absolutely sensible."

But Diana Watkins, chairman of the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools, said: "What I think would be very dangerous would be to just go back to a skills-based curriculum."

She said she was "absolutely determined" that the curriculum for prep schools would remain rigorous but exciting and flexible.

"Children really need specialist music teachers, sports and languages teachers," she added. "Often specialists are really passionate about their subjects and that is what sets children alight."