School curriculum review ‘facing dilemmas and trade-offs’

Making changes to what children are taught at school will 'not be easy' due to capacity limitations within the education system and the contentious debate around what the curriculum should contain, the person leading a government review on the issue has said.

As part of efforts to "break down the barriers to opportunity for every child and young person", the government wants to make changes to the curriculum, including offering access to creative courses.

Writing for The Times Educational Supplement, Professor Becky Francis, CEO of the Education Endowment Foundation, who is leading the government's Curriculum and Assessment Review, said there are two "key capacity issues" facing the school system—the capacity of the workforce in light of ongoing recruitment and retention issues and the capacity of the curriculum itself.

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"There are myriad subjects, topics and issues that different stakeholders would like to see inserted or given more time in the curriculum," she said.

"Yet another common view is that the present curriculum is over-laden and over-prescribed. If you add things in, you have to remove others. And there is little agreement on what might be removed.

"These are just a couple among the long list of dilemmas and trade-offs that the review will need to consider. Nevertheless, the opportunity to review our curriculum and assessment system is a hugely exciting one."

'Contentious'

She added that while there is broad agreement that the curriculum should contain the most valuable knowledge and skills for young people’s later lives, it is "much harder to find agreement on the content".

"Our perceptions are shaped by our personal preferences, experiences and political persuasions," she said.

"And given the personal and societal importance of the curriculum, and that the curriculum and time for its delivery is finite, it is no wonder it is contentious."

Speaking ahead of July's general election, Labour leader Keir Starmer said all children will be able to study a creative arts subject or sport until they are 16.

The review of what is taught in schools in England was subsequently announced two weeks after Labour's victory at the polls.

'No easy task'

"[The review] is no easy task, but a vital one," Fisher said.

"Vital for the children and young people that study the curriculum, the professionals that teach it, and our wider society that benefits collectively – socially and economically – from the knowledge and skills gained by those who will grow up to shape the society of the future.

"It is because of this importance that I relish the task and gravity of the review."

A call for evidence for the review will be launched in the coming weeks.

"While the review won’t be able to address every issue linked to curriculum and assessment, I am confident that, by focusing on some key challenges, drawing on data and evidence, and listening to the views of the sector, we can develop an offer that works for young people and education professionals alike," Fisher said.