The year 2009 saw the publication of three major reports/reviews, each with important implications for policy and practice in curriculum and assessment in English primary education. The first was a so-called "independent" review of the primary curriculum set up by the government and conducted on its behalf by Sir Jim Rose (Rose 2009). The second…

This paper summarises some English research findings related to educational inequality, particularly in inner urban schools. It documents how differences related to relative poverty are reflected in patterns of educational attainment as revealed by national tests results. It considers and evaluates how the issue of educational inequality in…

The terms "primary education" and "primary schools" were in use long before 1945. However, it was not until 1 April 1945 that primary education became the first of three statutory stages of the English education system. At that time, primary education faced an uncertain future because of the enormous problems it had inherited from the elementary…