The national curriculum has been criticized and continually revised
             since its inception in 1988. Brought about by the governmental pressures
             away from comprehensive and toward the marketplace, the national
             curriculum was met with immediate criticism. The national curriculum was
             extensively modified in the years after 1988, moving curriculum decisions
             away from teachers and toward the government, based on largely political,
             rather than educational motives. Overall, while a national curriculum can
             potentially provide a number of benefits, the national curriculum of 1988
             Before delving too deeply into the issue of the national curriculum,
             it is important to understand the purpose and content of the curriculum.
             Curriculum can be defined as: "A structured plan of intended learning
             outcomes, underpinning knowledge, skills, behavior and associated learning
             experiences. The learning plan is generally organized as a sequenced
             combination of modules so that a student can achieve specified educational
             and training outcomes. The curriculum includes the syllabus, teaching
             guides, an assessment guide and required learning resources" (TAFE NSW).
             A number of events and trends led up to the advent of the national
             curriculum in 1988. During the 1960s, there had been a move in the country
             toward comprehensive in schools that soundly defeated by the mid-1980s.
             At the same time, conservative politicians called for a curriculum that
             focused on core competencies like reading writing, and arithmetic, and was
             driven by the marketplace. Further, the governments prior to the mid-
             The 1980s worked hard to dramatically reduce the powers of Local Education
             Authorities (LEAs) (Gillard; Education in England). Together, these trends
             paved the way for the planning and implementation of the national
             It is important to consider that Margaret Thatcher had been education
             secretary as 1970 when Ted Heath's Tory Par...