New UK curriculum ramps up lessons in SPAAAACE

More facts crammed into brains in draft schools shakeup

British children will be taught more about the solar system and evolution in an overhaul of the primary school curriculum proposed yesterday by Education Secretary Michael Gove.

Gove reckons his new draft lesson plan will "restore rigour" to classrooms by bumping up the amount of stuff kids have to learn: in science that will mean telling youngsters more about neighbouring planets and how creatures emerged from Earth's primordial ooze, which will make a change from the Pokemon flavour of evolution the tykes are used to.

Blighty's under-12s will also be made to learn more about the concept of speed - presumably the magnitude of velocity rather than the drug.

In line with the approach to science in schools in Alberta and Massachusetts, there will be a new focus on getting kids to do experiments.

In maths, pupils will be expected to do more work with fractions - a level consistent with education in Singapore - and know their times tables up to 12 x 12 instead of the current top limit of 10 x 10. In English, spelling will be beefed up, and pupils will be expected to know how to use apostrophes correctly and master formal English by reciting poetry. ®