{"id":237352,"date":"2025-11-04T22:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T22:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/?p=237352"},"modified":"2026-02-17T14:50:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T14:50:41","slug":"new-curriculum-to-be-introduced-in-2028-as-review-published","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/new-curriculum-to-be-introduced-in-2028-as-review-published\/","title":{"rendered":"New curriculum to be introduced in 2028 as review published\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The government will introduce a new national curriculum from 2028, scrap the EBacc league table measure, make citizenship compulsory in primary schools and force all secondaries to offer triple science GCSE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its initial response to the curriculum and assessment review, ministers also announced plans to strengthen writing assessment in year 6 and explore a new language qualification which \u201cmotivates pupils to want to continue studying\u201d, to complement existing GCSEs and A-levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The curriculum and assessment review is due to be published Wednesday morning. But details of the main proposals<\/a>, and the government\u2019s response to some of them, have been shared in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The review has recommended that the government review and update all programmes of study in the national curriculum. In some subjects it has recommended small tweaks. In others, such as English language, it has proposed a complete overhaul<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Update: You can now view the curriculum review in full here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Our full curriculum review coverage:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

News story: New national curriculum pledged from 2028<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What ministers said: Which recommendations will now become government policy?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key policies round-up: Scrap EBacc, year 8 tests in English and maths, cut 10% from GCSE exam time<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subject-specific policy round-up: Mandatory citizenship, RE in the national curriculum and triple science entitlement:<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interview: Becky Francis on the big ideas in her curriculum review<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Schools to get four terms to prepare<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The government has so far only accepted a handful of the recommendations, and despite repeated requests did not make its full response available at the same time as the review report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ministers said today they would introduce compulsory citizenship teaching at primary school<\/strong>, a triple science guarantee at GCSE<\/strong> and can the EBacc<\/strong>, which is blamed for discouraging pupils from studying creative and vocational qualifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the government appears to have diverged from the review in a promise to “reform” the progress 8 accountability measure, though it has published no further details. The review recommended “no changes to its structure or subject composition<\/strong>“.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to journalists earlier today, curriculum review chair Becky Francis acknowledged she and the government “have two slightly different positions on what progress 8 might look like”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“They’ve said they’ll consult, so hopefully that will be true of any areas of difference, and everybody will have the chance to have their say.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new curriculum \u201cwill be implemented in full, for first teaching from September 2028″<\/strong>, the government has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The DfE said it aimed to publish the final revised national curriculum by spring 2027<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cgiving schools four terms to prepare for the changes\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Ambitious but achievable\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Review chair Becky Francis said her \u201cambitious but achievable set of recommendations \u2026 have the potential to bring about important and lasting change that improves the educational experiences and outcomes of children and young people.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department for Education said the extension of citizenship meant that \u201cfor the first time, primary aged children will gain vital skills like how to spot fake news and identify misinformation and disinformation, helping them develop the critical thinking needed to challenge what they see and protect them from online harms\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Primary pupils \u201cwill also learn more about the fundamentals of money<\/strong>, recognising that children are now consumers often before they reach secondary school, while bringing important changes to strengthen children\u2019s reading\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its changes to league tables will mean arts GCSEs \u201cwill be given equal status to humanities and languages<\/strong>, recognising their value in boosting confidence and broadening skills for a competitive job market. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to the review, the government has also pledged to publish a new oracy framework<\/strong> \u201cto ensure more young people become confident and effective speakers, building on the success of the reading and writing frameworks\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ministers have also pledged to replace the \u201cnarrowly focused computer science GCSE with a broader, future-facing computing GCSE<\/strong> and exploring a new qualification in data science and AI for 16\u201318-year-olds<\/strong>\u201d.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the government will explore a \u201cnew language qualification which banks progress and motivates pupils to want to continue studying<\/strong>, complementing existing GCSEs and A levels\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this language qualification was not proposed in the review, and Francis told journalists it was “not something we had input on”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Landmark reforms will help pupils boldly step into future\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Interview: Becky Francis on the big ideas in her curriculum review<\/a><\/blockquote>