History Workshop Online have an interesting discussion of the proposed new UK National Curriculum in history. Here’s the first paragraph:

The response to the latest proposals for the National Curriculum in History (February 2013) can justifiably be described as historic (or should that be histrionic?). Since the first national curriculum was established in 1988 by the Conservative education secretary Kenneth Baker, the reaction to any changes has tended to be reasonably muted, occasionally even warm. Never before has there been such a vehement opposition comparable to that being engendered by current Conservative education secretary, Michael Gove. A recent poll from the Historical Association (1) showed responses that would force most politicians screeching towards a U-turn; 96% felt that the proposed history curriculum ‘was a negative change’; 96% felt that the curriculum did not provide an effective route for progression in history from Key Stages 1-3; the most positive element that could be gleaned from the survey was that 12% agreed with the overall aims of the new curriculum. [continues]