Curriculum intent statements are all the rage now. While I don’t have a problem with a course having a clear purpose and rationale, I am curious about the justification for some of the curriculum intent statements I read, and I do question whether they are a good use of time for hard-pressed teachers.
So, what’s wrong with intent statements?
Frankly, they are frequently little more than a superficial statement of the obvious. Many that I read state that the curriculum is ambitious and aims to teach students what they need to progress to their desired destinations. They often say that students will develop their personal skills and some also talk about being responsive to industry and employers’ needs. I know that may seem a bit reductive but honestly, a lot don’t go beyond that.
I am really not sure what reader is going to find such a statement useful. All it does is raise questions. What content makes this curriculum ambitious? What will students learn that will make them a good candidate for a job or higher level course? What are they going to be taught that develops personal skills and characteristics such as resilience, self-confidence and values? How will their progress be assessed?
