Dear colleagues,
Today, in classrooms and schools across the country, there has been incredible work happening – your work, for your students, the same as every day. Your commitment to helping every child achieve and thrive is what drives our education system forward – and it’s that same spirit that will help us deliver the changes ahead.
This morning, the Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report was published alongside the government response. This next step in our Plan for Change sets out how we’ll create high and rising standards for every young person.
A modern curriculum must do more than reflect the past. It must prepare our children for the future, enabling them to seize opportunities so they can achieve and thrive in the modern world. It should raise the floor for all without limiting ambition and achievement. Whilst many young people are succeeding through the current system, too many are still leaving full-time education without the essential knowledge and skills they need to thrive.
That’s why I asked Professor Becky Francis CBE and an external panel of experts to lead an independent review. Through the call for evidence and countless conversations in schools, you’ve shaped the recommendations in their report.
Strong foundations in the basics – reading, writing, and maths – will be at the core, complemented by a greater focus on digital skills, financial and media literacy, and oracy. It will revitalise arts education, help protect PE time, and create pathways that value technical and vocational learning. Schools will also be expected to work towards offering the opportunity to study triple science GCSE to all pupils, which comes alongside the government exploring a new qualification for 16 to 18-year-olds in data science and AI – helping more young people succeed in the science and tech careers that power our economy.
The curriculum will be designed so all pupils benefit, whether they’re from disadvantaged backgrounds, have special educational needs or disabilities, or need stretching further. And for the first time, we’ll create a fully digital curriculum that shows how topics connect.
We will deliver post-16 reforms from our Post-16 education and skills strategy white paper, including consulting on reforms to post-16 level 3 and below pathways, and on new level 1 preparation for GCSE qualifications for English and maths at ages 16 to 19.
On assessment: we’re introducing a mandatory reading test for all pupils at age 13, so we can ensure children who are struggling don’t fall through the cracks. We’re keeping the rigour of exams whilst reducing exam time at GCSE. We’re improving how we measure progress to balance a strong academic core with breadth and choice, and we’re removing the EBacc performance measures.
We’re also setting out an enrichment entitlement for every child – because access to music, sport, art, and drama isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have’, it’s essential. A well-rounded school experience supports academic achievement. Evidence suggests that children who engage in extra-curricular activity are more likely to succeed academically while building the skills they need to thrive in the jobs of tomorrow.
This government was elected to drive change, and I know we all want to see that change in our schools as quickly as possible. But real progress takes time. You’ll have time to familiarise yourself with the new curriculum before teaching it, and we’ll support you with evidence-led resources and adaptive teaching strategies. There will be free, optional digital resources through Oak National Academy, support through our RISE English and maths hubs, CPD programmes, the National Centre for Arts and Music Education, and new PE and sports partnerships.
If you’d like to know more or have questions about the review, please join the Education Secretary for a live online event at 4:15 on Wednesday November 12. You can also read more about it in our Teacher Bulletin and on the Education Hub.
Your expertise and creativity are what will make this renewed curriculum work for children, and your insights will continue to shape how we implement these changes.
Thank you for all that you do. Together, we can make sure every child, whatever their background, leaves school with the confidence, knowledge and skills to succeed. I’m proud to be working alongside you to make that happen.
Sincerely,
Bridget Phillipson
Secretary of State for Education
