In seeking to understand the curriculum, an insight into historical developments and a consideration of the development of education policy provides a useful starting point. Cunningham; Aldrich; Coffey; Tomlinson: Docking; and Jones all provide a historical perspective.
Aldrich, R. (2001) A Century of Education, London: RoutledgeFalmer
Coffey, A. (2001) Education and Social Change, Buckingham: Open University Press
Tomlinson, S. (2001) Education in a Post-Welfare Society, Buckingham: Open University Press
Cunningham, P. (1988) Curriculum Change in the Primary School Since 1945: Dissemination of the Progressive Ideal, London: Falmer
Jones, K. (2003) Education in Britain: 1944 to the Present, Cambridge: Polity Press
See also:
Wyse, D., Baumfield, V., Egan, D., Hayward, L., Hulme, M., Menter, I., Gallagher, C., Leitch, R., Livingston, K. and Lingard, B. (2013) Creating the Curriculum, Abingdon: Routledge.
Fautley, M. L., Hatcher, R. and Millard, E. (2011) Remaking the Curriculum: Re-Engaging Young People in Secondary School, London: IOE Press.
White, J. and Reiss, M. (2013) An Aims-Based Curriculum: the Significance of Human Flourishing for Schools, London: IOE Press.
Scott, D. (2008) Critical Essays on Major Curriculum Theorists, Abingdon: Routledge.
Young, M. (2008) Bringing Knowledge Back in: From Social Constructivism to Social Realism in the Sociology of Education, Abingdon: Routledge.
Clarke, P. (2011) Education for Sustainability: Becoming Naturally Smart, Abingdon: Routledge.
Taylor, K. and Woolley, R. (2013) Values and Vision in Primary Education, Maidenhead: Open University Press
Wedell, M. (2009) Planning for Educational Change: Putting People and their Contexts First, London: Continuum
Numerous writers provide challenging and illuminating perspectives for anyone considering the impact of education policy on the nature of current and future curricula in schools. Writers in this area include Whitty and Altrichter & Elliot:
Whitty, G. (2002) Making Sense of Education Policy: Studies in the Sociology and Politics of Education, London : Paul Chapman
Altrichter, H. and Elliot, J. (eds) (2000) Images of Educational Change, Buckingham: Open University Press
Osborn, M., Broadfoot, P., McNess, E., Ravn, B., Dlanel, C., and Triggs, P. (2003) Comparing Learners Across Europe: A World of Difference? Buckingham, Open University Press
Claxton, G., Pollard, A. and Sutherland, R. (eds) (2003) Learning and Teaching Where Worldviews Meet, Stoke-on-Trent : Trentham
Burbules, N. and Alberto Torres, C. (2000) Globalization and Education, London: RoutledgeFalmer
Matheson, D. (2004) An Introduction to the Study of Education, London: David Fulton
Ward, S. (2004) Education Studies: A Student’s Guide, London: RoutledgeFalmer
Schiro, M.S. (2007) Curriculum Theory: Conflicting Visions and Enduring Concerns, London: Sage.
Hargreaves & Fullan and Quicke, in different ways, examine what curriculum it is worth having in the 21st century:
Hargreaves, A. and Fullan, M. (1998) What's Worth Fighting For In Education? Buckingham: Open University Press
Quicke, J. (1999) A Curriculum for Life: Schools for a Democratic Learning Society, Buckingham: Open University Press
Ross presents an analysis of the curriculum in the context of how society is constituted and in terms of views of assessment. Kelly takes a global look at the curriculum, questioning the form it should take in a genuinely democratic society.
Ross, A. (2001) What Is the Curriculum? In Collins, J., Insley, K., and Soler, J. (eds) Developing Pedagogy, London: Paul Chapman.
Kelly, A.V. (2004) The Curriculum: Theory and Practice -5th. Edition, London: Paul Chapman.
Norris presents an eclectic mix of commentary and thinking on the nature of curriculum drawn from 35 years of the Cambridge Journal of Education. It is in three parts - defining the curriculum problem; framing educational experience; teachers and teaching.
Norris, N. (2008) Curriculum and the Teacher, London: Routledge.
