Major Changes to National Curriculum in England
Children will learn how to manage their finances, including understanding mortgages, as part of significant revisions to the national curriculum. The updates will also cover topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), disinformation, fake news, and online safety.
Government Goals and Curriculum Review
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasized the government’s aim to "revitalise" the curriculum. These changes align with the introduction of the new V levels.
Key Curriculum Updates Effective from 2028
- Financial education focusing on savings and mortgages
- Lessons on AI, disinformation, and how to identify fake news
- Emphasis on online safety for children
- Reduction in GCSE exam time by an average of three hours per student
- Requirement for all students to take three science GCSEs
- Scrapping of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc)
Exam Volume Concerns
“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.”
The government argues the current amount of exams is excessive and aims to reduce the pressure on students while maintaining academic standards.
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These changes come amid ongoing discussions about education reform and government spending.
Author's Summary
The national curriculum reforms aim to modernize education by including practical financial skills, reducing exam overload, and addressing digital literacy challenges to better prepare children for the future.