Module manager: Samantha Shaw
Email: S.J.Shaw1@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
60 credits at level 1
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module invites you to examine the depth of knowledge and professional understanding required for effective curriculum design and how this expertise can be applied to create assessment strategies that are fair, inclusive, ethical, and resilient to challenges such as AI misuse and plagiarism. Drawing on curricula with which you are familiar, you will critically analyse their content and purpose, considering the social and political influences that shape them. This analysis will also examine how they address diverse learner needs, particularly those with SEND, and whether they promote equity and accessibility. You will also evaluate how decisions about curriculum and assessment affect inclusion, differentiation, and the provision of meaningful, achievable learning experiences for all students.
This module aims to support you to strengthen your skills in embedding inclusive and equitable teaching and learning practices, deconstructing existing curricula, and promoting assessment strategies that will enhance pupil outcomes and achievement. These activities will also deepen your ability to critically analyse the practical implications of curriculum and assessment choices, focusing on how they shape learner engagement, support diverse needs, and contribute to the refinement of traditional pedagogical approaches. The objectives of the module are to: 1. Develop critical awareness of the factors influencing curriculum design and implementation. 2. Understand key concepts and principles of assessment and evaluation, including ethical and inclusive practices. 3. Investigate a variety of curricula and assessment approaches.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1. Analyse a scheme of work and identify the range of curriculum and assessment factors and principles that underpin its content, structure, and purpose.
2. Critically evaluate a range of assessment approaches.
3. Demonstrate the academic skills and knowledge required to design an effective assessment strategy relevant to the educational context.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes: 1. Communication – the ability to convey and receive information clearly, accurately, and appropriately. 2. Information, data and media literacies – the ability to find, evaluate, organise and share information across a variety of formats and media, ensuring the reliability and integrity both of the sources that you use and of the ideas that they help you to generate. 3. Critical thinking - gathers information from a range of sources, analyses, and interprets data to aid understanding, anticipate problems and, evidence-based decision-making. Uses reasoning and judgement to identify needs, solve problems, and respond with actions. 4. Information searching – the ability to search for, evaluate and use appropriate and relevant information sources to help strengthen the quality of academic work and self-directed research. 5. Academic writing – the ability to communicate effectively in written form to articulate an argument, supported by relevant evidence and adhering to academic convention.
Being digital: As part of this module students will develop a range of digital literacy skills. Further details are provided in the module handbook
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| Independent online learning hours | 40 | ||
| Private study hours | 140 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
- Preparation and background reading for lectures: 100 hours
- Preparation of written assignments: 80 hours.
Ongoing guidance and opportunities to discuss the assessments will be available each week as we progress through the module. There will also be draft feedback/advice provided for both assignments.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Written Work | Analysis of a scheme of work (1,500 words) | 40 |
| Written Work | Rationale for your design of an assessment strategy (2,500 words) | 60 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team