PRIMARY schools must reinstate the full range of subjects when the new national curriculum is introduced in 2000.

Art, music, PE, design and technology, history and geography must be covered in full when the light-touch system ends next year.

However some schools could face upheaval if they have dropped topics which become compulsory under the new curriculum. From September 2000, OFSTED inspections will once again judge primaries on how well they cover the entire syllabus.

Education Secretary David Blunkett had given primaries a two-year reprieve to create more time for the 3Rs and allow teachers to introduce the literacy and numeracy strategies.

Since last year, primary schools have only been obliged to teach the full curriculum in English, maths, science, information technology and religious education.

The six foundation subjects still have to be taught. For the moment, however, they way they are covered is up to teachers.

Ofsted inspectors cannot currently criticise schools for failing to cover the full syllabus in foundation subjects. They do, however, report on teaching and learning and on the contribution each subject makes to literacy and numeracy teaching.

Subject organisations, who saw the original relaxation as an attack on the broad and balanced curriculum, welcomed the move.