Example teacher training dissertation topic 3:

The new National Curriculum – a year too early?

Those presently undertaking either the PGCE or the final year of their education degrees are being taught a National Curriculum that will not exist in September 2013 when they potentially enter the classroom as NQTs. Given this, this dissertation asks whether the present National Curriculum should be extended for a further year. In so doing it suggests that such a delay would be beneficial in two distinct ways. First, it would enable those presently undertaking training can be trained upon a curriculum they will actually deliver. Secondly, it would enable further INSET to be given to those already within the profession. This is therefore a dissertation that contextualises teacher training within the vortex of political ideology and departmental considerations at a national governmental level.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• McCormick, B. and Burn, K. (2011). ‘Reviewing the National Curriculum 5-19 two decades on’, Curriculum Journal, Vol. 22(2), pp. 109-115.
• Oates, T. (2011). ‘Could do better: using international comparisons to refine the National Curriculum in England’, Curriculum Journal, Vol. 22(2), pp. 121-150.
• Stanley, G., Jones, M. and Murphy, J. (2012). ‘Implementing the Opening Minds curriculum in a secondary school in England: An alternative to the one-size-fits-all National Curriculum?’, Curriculum Journal, Vol. 23(3), pp. 265-282.