The curriculum should better reflect the diversity of society, a year-long syllabus review recommends. Published today, the final report of the curriculum and assessment review suggests making the curriculum more inclusive without diluting its academic content, as well as specific changes that include embedding climate change teaching. The report also recommends reducing the number of GCSE exams and some course content, teaching pupils how to spot misinformation and conspiracy theories at a younger age, and overhauling grammar lessons in primary schools, bringing an end to reforms introduced under Michael Gove. The government has said it will accept many of the recommendations from the report, which was commissioned by education secretary Bridget Phillipson and written by a panel of experts, led by Professor Becky Francis. By Nicola Woolcock, Georgia Lambert and Geraldine Scott, The Times. 

The Telegraph features an extensive article exploring the 197-page report, noting that Labour aims to publish the revised national curriculum by spring 2027, to be implemented in schools from September 2028. By Poppy Wood.

The review's key policy recommendations are outlined by Hazel Shearing for BBC News, which leads with the recommendation that financial literacy should be taught in maths classes. Freddie Whittaker from Schools Week and Richard Adams from The Guardian have also written detailed summaries of the report, and Tes looks at how individual subjects could change if the government proceeds with the review's proposals. By Dan Worth.

In an exclusive interview with Tes, Professor Francis details the recommendations and the evidence underpinning them. "We know from the evidence that when young people can see themselves represented in the curriculum, they feel more engaged, and that supports their learning," she says. By Helen Amass. 

Writing to The Times, Shaun Fenton, headmaster of Reigate Grammar School, says ministers should be acknowledged for "recognising that education must evolve to meet the needs of a fast-changing world" being shaped by AI, globalisation and technologies not yet imagined. Welcoming the plans to boost both science and the arts, Mr Fenton warns that the latter "are often undervalued" but "equally vital". He concludes by urging educators, families and policymakers to collaborate "to shape a curriculum that is rigorous, creative and truly fit for the future".

Richard Willmott from Hereford also writes to the paper in light of the curriculum review, welcoming plans to offer separate sciences at GCSE in all state schools. He notes the irony of ministers having introduced the VAT on fees policy on families paying for schools already offering such an option, before adding: "If the government is serious about its desire to train broadly educated clear thinkers, it should also reconsider its foolish decision to remove funding for the International Baccalaureate from all state schools." 

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In the ISC's latest blog, Eleni Chivers, a Year 13 student and diversity prefect at Nottingham Girls’ High School GDST, explains how the school community came together to celebrate the contributions and achievements of black people across the globe.

In a written question in the House of Commons, Liberal Democrat spokesperson (Chief Secretary to the Treasury) Charlie Maynard asked what steps the education secretary is taking to support specialist independent special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schools. Responding, education minister Georgia Gould acknowledged the "important role" played by independent schools within the SEND system, "particularly in meeting the needs of children and young people with highly complex needs", but warned that such schools "have higher costs than their maintained equivalents" so, as such, ministers must "ensure that placements are used appropriately and deliver value for money". She added: "We want to encourage stronger partnerships and sharing of best practice across specialist and mainstream schools. We are considering how best to achieve this as part of our wider SEND reform plans." 

Conservative peer Lord Black of Brentwood submitted a written question in the House of Lords in which he asked whether ministers have made an impact assessment of proposals to increase charges payable by independent schools for Ofsted inspections, and if so, whether that will be published. Responding, Labour peer Baroness Smith of Malvern said the Department for Education’s consultation, launched in September to review the subsidy for Ofsted inspection fees and outline the impact of proposed fee increases on Ofsted-inspected independent schools, is publicly available. Hansard.

One in 10 children in the first year of primary school in England is obese – the highest it has been on record outside the pandemic, according to figures from the National Child Measurement Programme. The data found 10.5 per cent of pupils in Reception and more than a fifth in Year 6 were obese in 2024/25, with boys more likely to be overweight than girls. Excluding the peak during the first year of the pandemic, it is the highest obesity prevalence seen in Reception year since records began in 2006/07 and is higher than the 9.6 per cent in 2023/24. By Anjum Peerbacos, Sky News.

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