DM>I'd predict that the National curriculum would be based on the 
DM>lowest expectations not the highest. 
I'm not sure "lowest" is the best adjective here, as it
implies a substandard achievement level.  Certainly there 
will be a minimum level of competence which will be
acceptable, but that doesn't necessarily imply that this
"minimum" is in any way substandard as regards the level of
achievement involved.
DM>Better some way of making it financially possible for all schools 
DM>to be the best they can be :-)
Setting a minimum level of acceptable performance doesn't
prevent excellence...
DM>If the national specification set out a standard so high that every 
DM>school could be measured against the accepted very best curriculum 
DM>and that best was just past attainable it might work.
As what?  What you're asking for is a gauge by which schools 
can be compared, but for what purpose?  The SCHOOLS aren't
the focus (or shouldn't be), the STUDENTS are the focus!  
The idea behind a national curriculum is not to compare 
schools, but to ensure that graduates of ALL our schools have 
attained or exceeded an acceptable level of scholastic
achievement....
DM>How does the National Curriculum change the way things will work 
DM>when we see how things really work in today's schools? 
For one thing, if there is a nationally agreed-upon standard,
then we can have exit exams which certify that a graduate has
attained certain skills or a certain base of knowledge.  As
it is now, a graduate may, or may not, know much of ANYTHING!
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