A scheme of work is a kind of plan that outlines all the learning to be covered over a given period of time (usually a term or a whole school year).

It defines the structure and content of an academic course. It splits an often-multi-year curriculum into deliverable units of work, each of a far shorter weeks' duration (e.g. two or three weeks). Each unit of work is then analysed out into teachable individual topics of even shorter duration (e.g. two hours or less).

Better schemes of work map out clearly how resources (e.g. books, equipment, time) and class activities (e.g. teacher-talk, group work, practicals, discussions) and assessment strategies (e.g. tests, quizzes, Q&A, homework) will be used to teach each topic and assess students' progress in learning the material associated with each topic, unit and the scheme of work as a whole. As students progress through the scheme of work, there is an expectation that their perception of the interconnections between topics and units will be enhanced.

Schemes of work may include times and dates (deadlines) for delivering the different elements of the curriculum. Philosophically, this is linked to a belief that all students should be exposed to all elements of the curriculum such that those who are able to "keep up" ("the best" / elite) do not miss out on any content and can achieve the highest grades. This might be described as a "traditionalist" view.

There is a conflicting philosophical d progress at its own pace: such that no student is "left behind". Whilst the remaining students "catch up", those students who understand quickly should be placed in a "holding pattern" full of puzzles and questions that challenge them to connect recent learning with longer-established learning (they may also be encouraged to spend a small amount of time enhancing their understanding by supporting teaching staff in unpicking underlying errors/questions of fellow students who have not grasped recent ideas as quickly). This view might be described as a "Mastery" approach. In mathematics teaching in England it is strongly supported by the Government-funded National Centre for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics based on research guided by the globally-exceptional performance of schools in Singapore and Shanghai.

Curriculum

The scheme of work is usually an interpretation of a specification or syllabus and can be used as a guide throughout the course to monitor progress against the original plan. Schemes of work can be shared with students so that they have an overview of their course.

The ultimate source of the specification or syllabus is a curriculum. Curricula are typically defined by Government and hence by law and/or regulation. Accordingly, each country has its own (though some countries choose to adopt curricula defined by other countries).

In generating a scheme of work, it is vital to have detailed regard to the legally-required curriculum of the country in which the scheme of work is to be delivered. These are typically defined, in detail, by subject. Understanding the subtleties and nuances of their presentation is of vital importance when defining the most useful schemes of work.

England

For maintained schools and exam boards in England, the National Curriculum is set by Department for Education (such that the foundations of earlier learning are reinforced whilst building upon them). Accordingly, students who have struggled with the harder-to-understand elements in the past are given the opportunity to master the Key Stage 3 content whilst others build higher, in parallel.

English Secondary Schools: GCSEs [typically age 15/16+]

It is mandatory in England for students to have taken a GCSE in mathematics by the year of their sixteenth birthday.

It is notable that the subject content agreed between the Department of Education and The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) [the exam board regulator for GCSEs, AS-Levels and A-Levels] is highlighted in subtly different ways to the subject content of the national curriculum for Key Stage 4.

Elements

The key parts of a "scheme of work" may include:

{| class="wikitable" border="1"

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| Content 1

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| Objectives or Outcomes

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| Methods of delivery (student and teacher activity)

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| Assessment strategies

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| Resources

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| Other Remarks

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File:Scheme of work.jpg| scheme of Work

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Example of a simple scheme of work

See also Lesson Plans.

References

Schemes of Work [http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes3/?view=get]