Strengthening ‘the foundations’ of the primary school curriculum Rebecca Duncombe Lorraine Cale Jo Harris 2134/21805 https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/Strengthening_the_foundations_of_the_primary_school_curriculum/9618032 The low status of the foundation subjects (e.g. Music and Physical Education (PE)) in English primary schools is well documented. Using PE as an illustrative example, a thematic analysis of 51 PE trainee students’ assignments, based on their perceptions of a two-week experience in a primary school, highlighted a number of areas of concern (e.g. limited/inadequate preparation; insufficient teacher knowledge/confidence; variable/limited subject leadership and non-qualified teachers delivering the curriculum). The possibility of teachers, coaches and other external specialists learning collaboratively with and from each other within a community of practice/learning is proposed as one way of strengthening the foundation subjects within the primary school curriculum. 2016-06-24 08:39:00 Foundation subjects Teacher learning CPD Communities of practice/learning Physical education Primary education Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere classified