A major review of the curriculum – what children learn at school – and the qualifications and assessment system has just been published, and the government is making changes based on what it found.
The National Curriculum hasn’t been updated in over ten years, so these changes will ensure it stays relevant for today’s world.
These changes will deliver a world-leading curriculum and give every child a better, more well-rounded education that sets them up for life after school.
Here's what it means for you and your child.
What is the Curriculum and Assessment Review?
This is an independent review looking at what children and young people aged 5 to 19 learn in schools and colleges in England.
Professor Becky Francis CBE led the review with a panel of experts over the past year. The review received over 7,000 responses from the public to inform its findings.
Why are we changing what children learn at school?
The National Curriculum sets out what children learn at primary and secondary school, split by age group (known as key stages). It also lays out the minimum expectations for what children should be taught within each subject. The current National Curriculum hasn't been updated since 2014. Education for 16 to 19 year-olds is separate to the National Curriculum, but the review looked at this too.
The review found that much of what's currently taught works well, but some areas could be better – especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds or those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
What's changing?
We're modernising the curriculum so children have the right skills and knowledge to thrive in a changing world.
Building strong foundations
- Stronger foundations – more focus on speaking and listening (oracy), reading, writing and maths from early years through to secondary school.
- Clearer structure – the curriculum will be clearer and better organised, teaching subjects in a logical order so children build on what they've already learned.
- Inclusive support for all abilities – supporting teachers to adapt their teaching for children with SEND and other needs, while also stretching the most able learners further.
High standards, more choice
- Improvements to specific subjects – revitalising arts subjects, reinforcing the importance of two hours of PE each week throughout school, clearer language expectations in primary school, and a possible new flexible language qualification that pupils can take when ready, alongside GCSEs.
- GCSE improvements – helping all schools offer triple science (separate biology, chemistry and physics), giving students more choice in subjects, encouraging arts, and reducing time spent sitting exams.
- New vocational qualifications – introducing V Levels, a new post-16 qualification after GCSEs for students following a vocational route.
Learning for a changing world
- Boosting crucial skills – increased focus on financial education, media and digital literacy, and improving climate and sustainability education.
- Better computer education – a broader computing GCSE and possible new level 3 qualification (A level standard) in data science and AI.
- Access to enriching activities – ensuring all pupils can access arts, sports, nature, civic engagement and volunteering.
- Citizenship lessons – citizenship will now be compulsory in Years 1 to 6.
What happens next?
We're developing the new curriculum with teachers, curriculum experts, pupils and parents. The final curriculum will be published in spring 2027, and schools will start teaching it from September 2028.