Government response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review - November 2025

Oct 20, 2026

Government response sets out an ambition for every child and young person to receive a rich, broad, inclusive and innovative education. It frames curriculum reform around preparing learners for a rapidly changing world, strengthening strong subject foundations, and integrating knowledge with skills. The document emphasizes critical thinking, reading and communication, and includes plans for enrichment beyond traditional entitlement. It also outlines assessment, accountability and performance measures, plus implementation and future curriculum review timelines.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages61

Reading Time2 h 34 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

Introduction

Executive summary

Towards a world-leading curriculum

Preparing young people for a changing world

Pre-16 subjects

Subject recommendations

Assessment, accountability and performance measures

Post-16

Implementation of the recommendations

Future reviews of the curriculum and assessment

Annex A

Government response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review November 2025 Table of contents Foreword 5 Introduction 7 Executive summary 8 Towards a world-leading curriculum 12 High standards must mean high standards for all 16 Preparing young people for a changing world 23 Pre-16 subjects 28 Subject recommendations 28 Art and design 28 Citizenship 29 Computing 29 Design and technology (including cooking and nutrition) 29 English (including drama) 30 Geography 32 History 32 Languages 33 Maths 34 Music 34 PE (including dance) 35 RE 36 Science 36 Key Stage 4 Technical Awards 37 Enrichment 38 Assessment, accountability and performance measures 43 Primary assessment 43 Secondary assessment 43 Performance measures 45 Post-16 47 Level 3 47 Level 2 48 Level 1 and entry level 48 Enrichment activity within 16-19 study programmes 49 16-19 English and maths 49 Implementation of the recommendations 51 Future reviews of the curriculum and assessment 53 Annex A 54 Table of figures Figure 1: Enrichment activities 40 Figure 2: Progress 8 and Attainment 8 proposal 46 Figure 3: Implementation timelines 52 Foreword Education is our shared endeavour to shape the future for our society. Together we passon our knowledge, skills and values to the generations ahead – so that they can forge new paths and seize new opportunities. At the centre sits our curriculum, the common entitlement of every child. The world in which our children are growing up today is changing more rapidly than ever. To prepare them to adapt and excel in the 2030s and beyond, our curriculum must bring together knowledge and skills into a powerful partnership for learning. That begins with strong foundations – the subjects that unlock all others, the best start for all our children. That is the approach the government will take and which the Review has informed so powerfully. Excellence in maths will provide the problem-solvers of tomorrow. A love of reading will help young people navigate an uncertain world where fiction is too often dressed up as fact. A mastery of listening, speaking and writing will help them express their thoughts, present their ideas, and find their voice. We’ll teach our young people to think critically and act thoughtfully , armed with the digital, financial and media literacy they need to thrive in the modern world. Rather than produce passive consumers of information and disinformation, we must encourage our young people to go further. I want them to be clearsighted, drawing on a store of knowledge tobe questioning and sceptical about the information now so readily at their fingertips, but also to share in the sense of wonder about our world that is so precious a part of our human condition. For every child we must shift from a narrow conception of what they need to know, to deliver a breadth of knowledge, skills and opportunities that sets them up to achieve and thrive. For that, we need a curriculum rich in knowledge and broad in scope. The enrichment which has for too long been the privilege of a lucky few must now become the entitlement of a whole generation. A revitalised arts offer will spark their creativity. Access to sports, culture and nature will expand their horizons. Civic engagement will stretch their abilities beyond the classroom and prepare them for our democratic and inclusive society – not just speaking up and speaking out but listening to the voices of others too. And this education of depth and breadth must be the common entitlement of all children. For too long, too many have been trapped in a cycle of poor outcomes and rising disengagement. White working-class children, children with SEND, the children who are bright but bored – these are the children with the most to gain from an ambitious, futurefocused curriculum. Our curriculum will take those children from forgotten to included , and set them up for success. But we can only do that

FAQs

What is the overall ambition for students in this curriculum response?

It aims for every child and young person to receive a rich and broad, inclusive and innovative education, with foundations that support success and opportunity.

How does the document describe preparing young people for a changing world?

It links curriculum learning to critical thinking and thoughtful action, alongside digital, financial and media literacy to help learners thrive and question information.

What areas does the response cover beyond curriculum content?

It addresses subject recommendations, enrichment entitlement, assessment and performance measures, and the implementation timeline and future review plans.

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by Riley West