The education expert leading the government’s review of the National Curriculum has published her first report.
Prof Becky Francis CBE has outlined what she and her team have discovered so far and what they will be focussing on ahead of the final report for the Department of Education, due this autumn.
Prof Francis, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Education Endowment Foundation, has said four key themes have come through but has repeated her vow that the curriculum shake-up will be an evolution not a revolution.
In a newsletter to teachers and education leaders, Prof Francis says: “The Review has considered a wealth of evidence including responses to our Call for Evidence from more than 7,000 young people, parents, teachers, employers, and education experts, alongside polling of young people and parents, extensive roundtables and stakeholder consultation, and analysis of government data.
“The work of the Review looks to capitalise on what is working well in schools and colleges to improve the educational experience and outcomes of children and young people, so that all our young people have the opportunity to achieve and thrive.”
The Interim Report sets out that many aspects of the curriculum and assessment system are working well and identifies 4 key areas for improvement:
- Ensuring high standards for all – exploring how curriculum and assessment can be made more inclusive and equitable.
- Addressing subject-specific challenges and ensuring curriculum depth and breadth. Conducting analysis of individual subjects to ensure appropriate depth and mastery of knowledge.
- Responding to social and technological change – examining how education can best prepare students to grasp the opportunities of the future. For example, ensuring digital skills and media literacy to address trends in digital information and the rise of AI, and scientific and cultural knowledge to meet the challenges of climate change.
- Ensuring pathways beyond GCSE work for all – with particular attention to those young people not studying 3 A-Levels or T-Levels – to ensure all young people can access successful routes to further study or employment, especially those from less privileged backgrounds.
To read the report go to the DfE website
