In July 2024, the government commissioned Professor Becky Francis CBE to convene and chair a panel of experts to conduct the Curriculum and Assessment Review. The panel's interim report, published in March, was informed by research, statistical evidence and polling data. It was undertaken in close consultation with education professionals and other experts; parents and carers, children and young people; and stakeholders such as employers, universities and trade unions.
The panel's final report has been published today, Wednesday 5 November. It outlines the government’s plans to strengthen the curriculum and assessment system, with a focus on ensuring all young people develop strong foundations in reading, science, and mathematics, as well as the knowledge and skills needed for future learning and employment – raising school standards and boosting opportunity under the Plan for Change.
The updated curriculum is key to achieving the Prime Minister’s goal of increasing participation in higher-level learning among young people by age 25. It aims to equip pupils with the skills needed for future education and employment. For the first time, the curriculum will include content for primary school-aged pupils on identifying misinformation and disinformation, supporting the development of critical thinking and online safety. It will also introduce learning about the basics of money management and include changes intended to further strengthen reading.
Key reforms include:
- Making citizenship compulsory in primary, ensuring all pupils learn media literacy and financial literacy, law and rights, democracy and government, and climate education early on.
- Replacing the narrowly focused computer science GCSE with a broader, future-facing computing GCSE and exploring a new qualification in data science and AI for 16–18-year-olds.
- Changes to school performance measures – removal of the EBacc and reforms to Progress 8 – to encourage students to study a greater breadth of GCSE subjects including the arts, humanities and languages alongside English, maths and science. This follows the failure of the EBacc measure to encourage take up of subjects including languages and constraining student choice.
- Supporting schools to develop a triple science offer, ahead of introducing a statutory entitlement for all GCSE pupils.
- A new primary oracy framework, and a new combined secondary oracy, reading and writing framework so these are embedded across the whole curriculum.
- Exploring a new language qualification which banks progress and motivates pupils to want to continue studying, complementing existing GCSEs and A levels.
- A new core enrichment entitlement for every pupil – covering civic engagement; arts and culture; nature, outdoor and adventure; sport and physical activities; and developing wider life skills.
BBC News: 'Mortgages and AI to be added to the curriculum in English schools'.
Last updated: 5 November 2025