When and how to use

Developing a robust scope and sequence has many benefits and may help teachers and schools to:

• promote high expectations for student learning
• identify opportunities for explicit teaching
• create opportunities for students to receive feedback on their learning
• systematically plan for and undertake formal assessment
• collect and use data to monitor achievements and identify gaps in learning
• differentiate curriculum delivery to meet the needs of students at different levels of achievement
• collaborate with other teachers to plan for quality teaching and learning.

The NSW Department of Education publishes a range of curriculum support materials, including samples of lesson sequences, scope and sequences, assessment tasks, examinations, student and teacher resource booklets, and curriculum planning and curriculum evaluation templates. The samples are not exhaustive and do not represent the only way to complete or engage in each of these processes. Curriculum design and implementation is a dynamic and contextually-specific process. While mandatory components of syllabus implementation must be met by all schools, it is important the approach taken by teachers is reflective of their needs, and faculty or school processes.

Support and alignment

All curriculum resources are prepared through a rigorous process. Resources are periodically reviewed as part of our ongoing evaluation plan to ensure currency, relevance and effectiveness. For additional support or advice, or to provide feedback, contact the HSIE curriculum team by emailing hsie@det.nsw.edu.au.

Differentiation

Further advice to support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students, EAL/D learners, high potential and gifted students and students with a disability and/or additional needs can be found on Planning, programming and assessing 7–12. Differentiating learning and Inclusive Practice hub – Secondary school provide additional resources and support.

Assessment

Further advice to support formative assessment is available on Planning, programming and assessing 7–12, Teaching and learning – Assessment and NESA’s Assessment and Reporting.

Explicit teaching

Further advice to support explicit teaching is available on Explicit teaching. This includes CESE Explicit teaching – Driving learning and engagement.

Related resources

Further resources to support Ancient History 11–12 Syllabus (2024) can be found on Planning, programming and assessing ancient history 11–12 (2024).

Professional learning

Relevant professional learning is available on the HSIE statewide staffroom and My PL (staff only), including Curriculum planning for every student in every classroom (staff only).

Alignment to system priorities and/or needs: School Excellence Policy, Our Plan for NSW Public Education. The resource aligns to ‘Deliver outstanding leadership, teaching and learning’ in the Plan for Public Education. It specifically addresses:

• Deliver effective teaching practices including explicit teaching and effective feedback underpinned by high expectations.
• Provide high-quality, evidence-based curriculum resources.

Alignment to the School Excellence Framework: this resource supports the School Excellence Framework (staff only) elements of curriculum (curriculum provision) and effective classroom practice (lesson planning, explicit teaching). This resource will support teachers to develop, adapt and implement dynamic and inclusive programs that are contextualised to their learners. The assessment task included in the package will support teachers in contextualising evidence-based assessment strategies to gather data on student achievement.

Alignment to Australian Professional Standards for Teachers: this resource supports teachers to address Australian Professional Standards for Teachers 3.2.2.

Evidence base

This evidence base has current educational research that has informed the development of this resource.

CESE (Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation) (2020) What works best: 2020 update, NSW Department of Education, accessed 15 October 2024.

CESE (2020) What works best in practice, NSW Department of Education, accessed 15 October 2024.

NESA (NSW Education Standards Authority) (2021) ‘Advice on scope and sequences’, Programming, NESA website, accessed 15 October 2024.

NSW Department of Education (2022) ‘Developing a scope and sequence,’ NSW Department of Education website, accessed 15 October 2024.

Wiliam D (2013) ‘Assessment: The bridge between teaching and learning’, Voices from the Middle, 21(2):15–20, accessed 15 October 2024.