The development of a new science curriculum for secondary school in Spain: opportunities for change

As part of the educational reform approved in 1990, a new science curriculum for secondary education is beginning to be implemented in Spain, Some distinguishing features are; an extended period of debate and testing, beginning in 1983; a greater involvement of innovative teachers and associations in its production; and an explicit relationship with certain educational theories. The paper discusses how some controversial issues, such as co‐ordinated or separated disciplines, were handled; what happens to the designed curriculum once it gets to the classrooms; and some of the benefits and problems related to its implementation.