Major Changes to National Curriculum in England
Children in England will learn how to manage finances, including understanding mortgages, as part of significant reforms to the national curriculum starting in 2028.
New Curriculum Topics
- Financial literacy, including mortgages
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Disinformation and fake news
- Online safety
Government's Goals and Adjustments
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson described the reforms as a way to “revitalise” the curriculum. These changes follow proposals for new qualification levels known as V levels.
The government aims to reduce the time students spend on GCSE exams by an average of three hours, citing the current exam volume as excessive. They also plan to ensure that all students have the chance to take three science GCSEs.
Changes to Examination Structure
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) will be eliminated as part of the curriculum review.
“We are an international outlier in the number of exams and the volume of exams we have aged 16, only Singapore is anywhere near us,” said Professor Becky Francis, leader of the curriculum review.
“So we do want to try and bring that down.”
Additional Context
- Recent news includes Rachel Reeves refusing to resign as Chancellor and denying tax rises.
- The BBC reportedly spent £18 million on taxis, hotels, and trains in three years.
Author’s summary: The 2028 curriculum reform in England introduces financial literacy, AI, and media safety education while cutting exam hours and scrapping the EBacc to reduce student burden.