The Curriculum and Assessment Review was launched by the UK government in July 2024. It is being led by Professor Becky Francis CBE, who is the CEO of the Education Endowment Foundation and an expert in education policy, especially on topics like curriculum development and social inequality.
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The review spans Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 5 and aims to modernize and broaden the curriculum, focusing on key areas such as improving core skills in reading, writing, and maths, while also emphasizing digital, creative, and life skills. A crucial aspect of the review is ensuring that the curriculum and assessment systems are more inclusive, particularly for disadvantaged students and those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The remit of the review includes:
- Refreshing the curriculum to ensure it meets the needs of modern learners and prepares them for both life and work.
- Ensuring rigorous and valuable qualifications for students aged 16-19.
- Reviewing the current assessment system to explore improvements that would benefit both staff and students while maintaining the role of traditional exams.
- Ensuring that all state schools will be required to teach the national curriculum up to age 16.
The review is set to publish its recommendations in 2025, and any potential changes are expected to be introduced no earlier than September 2026 to give schools ample time to adapt.
There will be an interim report in Early 2025 and the full report towards the end of 2025.
You can find more about the Curriculum and Assessment Review on the Governments website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/curriculum-and-assessment-review
On the 30th of August 2024, the expert panel for the Curriculum and Assessment Review was officially announced. This 12-member panel, chaired by Professor Becky Francis, includes key figures from across the education system, such as leaders from academia, school trusts, and SEND specialists. The panel is designed to ensure broad representation from various sectors within education. The members are:
- Gary Aubin – Specialist Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) consultant and author of the SENDMatters.co.uk blog
- Professor Jo-Anne Baird – Director of the Oxford University Centre for Educational Assessment
- Professor Nic Beech – Vice-Chancellor of the University of Salford
- Cassie Buchanan OBE – CEO of the Charter Schools Education Trust
- Professor Zongyi Deng – Professor of Curriculum and Pedagogy at University College London
- Jon Hutchinson – Director of Curriculum and Teacher Development at the Reach Foundation
- John Laramy CBE – Principal and Chief Executive of Exeter College
- Dr Vanessa Ogden CBE – CEO of the Mulberry Schools Trust
- Lisa O’Loughlin – Principal and CEO of the Nelson and Colne College Group
- Funmilola Stewart – Trust Leader for Anti-Racism and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion across Dixons MAT
- Sir Ian Bauckham CBE (Observer) – Interim Chief Regulator at Ofqual
