PRIMARY children will have to learn about blogging and websites while topics like the Second World War may no longer be taught, under a radical shake-up national curriculum.

A major report into the future of primary schools says pupils should know how to use sites like Facebook and Twitter before going to secondary school.

And topics such as the Second World War and the Victorian era will no longer be compulsory.

The recommendations will be made in report by former Ofsted chief Sir Jim Rose, which were due to be presented next month but were leaked to the press this week.

Many schools already teach children how to use a computer keyboard and how to surf the Internet safely.

But the education chief will tell the government that learning how to use social networking sites, blogs and the internet for research are vital skills for the future.

And the Victorian era and the Second World War will no longer be compulsory topics. Teachers will be allowed to concentrate on other historic periods, although pupils will have to be able to place the events they study in date order,

Local teachers broadly welcomed the recommendations, arguing the new curriculum would not automatically lead to wholesale changes in schools.

Andy Dickinson, head of St Joseph's Junior and Infants school in Shaw, Oldham, said: "It won't necessarily mean schools stop teaching about the War, but it will give teachers more freedom to focus on local heroes or other historical events from their own area.

"We can't escape the fact that children are on the Internet at home and will need to use it for future jobs, so it's right that it does feature in lessons."

Chris Caldwell, head of Top O'th' Brow primary in Bolton, which in recent years has radically overhauled the way it teaches students by adopting an International Baccalaureate programme, said: "No part of the curriculum is sacrosanct. In terms of history, the Second World War is no more important than the Romans. The key thing is to ensure that students gain the research and writing skills.

"A lot of thinks like the internet and various websites are here to stay, whether we like them or not. However they can be used to help pupils enjoy learning. We can't keep teaching the way we did 200 years ago."

The national curriculum lays down key areas that children must learn before the age of 11.

Some teachers have complained that current guidelines are too restrictive and want freedom to tailor lessons to their own students.

Lesley Maddock, head of Haverley Hey primary in Wythenshaw, said: "Some of the current curriculum is too rigid. I think schools would like to be more creative.

"Rather than teachers telling students things all the time, we'd like to be able to improve children's skills by getting them to investigate things for themselves."

What do you think?

Student Alice Finlay, from Bolton, said: "We should learn about the big events in history. I go on Facebook but many of the things you use it for are irrelevant. Events like World War Two still have an effect on British society today."

Duncan McIntyre, a risk analyst from Ramsbottom, who has five children, said: "It is all very well moving with the times and knowing how to use specialist internet sites. But things like Facebook and Twitter may well be gone in two years time because technology moves so fast."

Mum-of-two Debbie Walsh, an office administrator from Rochdale, said: "They need to learn important events from history so they are prepared when they get to secondary school."

Co-worker Michelle Bredski, from Prestwich, who also has two children, said: "My kids love history. I think it would be a shame if subjects like the war weren't going to be taught."

Graphic designer Paula Taras, from Chorlton, said: "Children should be able to learn lessons from the past. It is worrying that when discipline is lacking, some schools will not be teaching children about the war and the sacrifice that people made."

Andrew Bough, an insolvency agent from Leigh, said: "We should learn about things like the war because we wouldn't be here otherwise." Tweet