number of attempts at reforming its content and format. In this inquiry we took evidence from a wide variety of sources to pose the questions: do we now have the National Curriculum that we need and, if not, what should be done? The current National Curriculum covers learners from age 5 to 16, but there have been important developments at both ends, with the specification of an early years curriculum through the Early Years Foundation Stage, and the introduction of new arrangements for learners aged 14 to 19, including a new-style qualification, the Diploma. Scaling down the National Curriculum We take the view that the main purpose of. | House of Commons Children Schools and Families Committee National Curriculum Fourth Report of Session 2008-09 Volume I Report together with formal minutes Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 11 March 2009 HC 344-I Incorporating HC 651-i to -viii Session 2007-08 Published on 2 April 2009 by authority of the House of Commons London The Stationery Office Limited The Children Schools and Families Committee The Children Schools and Families Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure administration and policy of the Department for Children Schools and Families and its associated public bodies. Membership at time Report agreed Mr Barry Sheerman MP Labour Huddersfield Chairman Annette Brooke MP Liberal Democrat Mid Dorset Poole North Mr Douglas Carswell MP Conservative Harwich Mr David Chaytor MP Labour Bury North Mr John Heppell MP Labour Nottingham East Mrs Sharon Hodgson MP Labour Gateshead East Washington West Paul Holmes MP Liberal Democrat Chesterfield Fiona Mactaggart MP Labour Slough Mr Andrew Pelling MP Independent Croydon Central Mr Andy Slaughter MP Labour Ealing Acton Shepherd s Bush Mr Graham Stuart MP Conservative Beverley Holderness Mr Edward Timpson MP Conservative Crewe Nantwich Derek Twigg MP Labour Halton Lynda Waltho MP Labour Stourbridge Powers The Committee is one of the departmental select committees the powers of which are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders principally in SO No 152. These are available on the Internet via Publications The Reports and evidence of the Committee are published by The Stationery Office by Order of the House. All publications of the Committee including press notices are on the Internet at csf Committee staff The current staff of the Committee are Kenneth Fox Clerk Sarah Thatcher Second Clerk Emma Wisby Committee Specialist Judith Boyce Committee Specialist Jenny Nelson Senior Committee Assistant Susan Ramsay Committee Assistant and
