May 2023

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The National MA  Education (Wales) programme run by seven Universities in Wales using shared expertise, expands this September with a Curriculum Pathway.

As well as delving into theory and practice in curriculum design, it will look at implementation and models of curriculum leadership. Participants on the blended learning part-time course will also be given opportunities to improve their professional judgement, autonomy and their ability to respond innovatively to challenges.

That doesn’t happen quickly. The minimum two or three year course (dependent on prior learning) allows time to really get under the skin of different aspects of practice,  and includes modules relating to Curriculum Design and Innovation, Research and Enquiry, and Exploring Pedagogies. The blend of learning includes some face-to-face time but is mainly on-line, with twilight sessions and national conference days.

A substantial investment in the future success of the Curriculum for Wales by Welsh Government, which collaborated with our universities to develop the National MA Education Programme, means that for some applicants no fees need be paid. That makes this a rare opportunity, well worth exploring.

Recruitment is now open, and much more information from each university can be found here.

Here’s a final word from Dr Andrew James Davies about what the Curriculum pathway offers:

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Ysgol Llanhari (3-19) engaged with parents and a range of other stakeholders as it developed its curriculum. See their approach – and how parents responded – below.

See more useful case study films covering curriculum development, assessment and progression, transition and more in the case study area on Hwb.

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Ysgol Plas Cefndy is a pupil referral unit in Rhyl, north Wales, which provides education other than at school (EOTAS) for secondary aged children experiencing social emotional and behavioural difficulties. They also have provision for children with high levels of anxiety at their Milestones centre in Rhyl and their satellite site at Ruthin provides placements for primary aged children.

See their case study films below showing how they’ve approached developing their curriculum, from a leadership and broader staff perspective.

Leadership perspective:

Broader staff perspective:

The  Guidance for EOTAS sets out what is needed over and above what is in the Curriculum for Wales framework guidance for all learners. It refers to the following key features:

• nurturing and strengthening the health and well-being of each learner
• systematic collaboration between learner, parents/carers, school and EOTAS providers
• access to an inclusive curriculum that focuses on the individual needs of each learner
• supporting the reintegration into or transition of learners receiving EOTAS to mainstream or specialist provision, and/or enabling them to progress towards further education, training or the world of work

The films are also hosted in the resource area of Hwb.