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The Latest Breaking News from Becky Francis

New national curriculum’s skills agenda starts to bring England in line with world-leading education systems

Proposed changes to England’s national curriculum aim to ensure it is fit for the future, writes Professor Becky Francis in her introduction to the final report of the government’s independent curriculum review. The panel that conducted the review sought to address the “rich knowledge and skills young people need to…

The Conversation

Thursday briefing: Inside Labour’s ambitious rethink of the national curriculum

In today’s newsletter: After decades of political tinkering, a new review of England’s national curriculum promises change without chaos – but can it really add without overwhelming?

The Guardian - UK

The Guardian view on the Francis curriculum review: raising the right questions in a world with few certain answers

Editorial: In an age of increasingly capable machines, it makes sense for schools to value creativity and life skills as part of a well-rounded education

The Guardian - UK

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Phillipson: New year 8 reading test will sit alongside maths and writing tests

Bridget Phillipson told MPs a statutory reading test will run alongside ‘diagnostic’ maths and writing tests

Evening Standard

AI to be added to curriculum in English schools amid education shakeup

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced the biggest national curriculum review for a decade

The Independent UK

England curriculum should focus less on exams and more on life skills, finds review

Experts say pupils should spend less time in exam halls and more time on activities like life skills, sport and work experience

The Guardian - UK

National curriculum review in England: 10 key recommendations

Proposals include shortening length of GCSE exams, a new diagnostic test in maths and English, and expanding RE

The Guardian - UK

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Government announces plan to cut GCSE exam time by up to three hours

The final curriculum review report, commissioned by Labour last year, has recommended exam volume at key stage 4 be reduced by 10%.

Evening Standard

Proposed year 8 tests should not be used to measure schools – review chief

The final report of the curriculum and assessment review has recommended introducing new English and maths tests in year 8.

Evening Standard

Compulsory maths and English GCSE resits too inflexible, says curriculum chief

Becky Francis says pupils condemned to retaking maths and English face ‘blocks to progress’ and system needs overhaul

The Guardian - UK

Curriculum review will support changing ‘inflexible approach’ to GCSE resits

Recommendations to help young people make better progress post-16 will be reflected in the coming skills white paper, Professor Becky Francis said.

Evening Standard

The Guardian view on GCSE resits: admitting the problem is just the first step

Editorial: The low pass rate in compulsory retakes is one of many challenges in 16-19 education

The Guardian - UK

The Guardian view on talking in class: the writers speaking up for oracy education are right

Editorial: Verbal communication has always been crucial. But today more than ever, young people must be equipped for jobs that can’t be done by machines

The Guardian - UK

The Guardian view on the arts in schools: classrooms need more creativity

Editorial: The promising early signs are that Prof Becky Francis’s education review will boost music, art and drama

The Guardian - UK

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The Guardian - UK

GCSEs harm our young people. Ministers should have the guts to abolish them – and start again

A report out this week highlights how destructive the cult of the exam is in Britain’s schools. But it doesn’t go far enough, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins

The Guardian - UK

Fewer GCSE exams proposed in Labour’s curriculum review – but Sats to stay

Interim report for schools in England to also recommend more emphasis on digital and media literacy, sustainability and climate science

Evening Standard

Curriculum and assessment review to consider reducing number of GCSE exams

The interim report sets out the areas of focus for its final report which will make recommendations to the Government in the autumn.

The Guardian - UK

Primary Sats ‘working well’ but Gove’s Ebacc needs scrutiny, review chief says

Curriculum chair satisfied with tests in year 6 and year 2 and says system performing well despite Covid setbacks

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Evening Standard

EBacc limiting pupils’ access to vocational and arts subjects, review chief says

Prof Becky Francis, chairwoman of the Government’s curriculum and assessment review, said national assessments and qualifications are ‘working well’.

The Independent UK

Government should review uninspiring and ‘mechanistic’ GCSE English – exam board

The Department for Education consultation into a review of curriculum and assessment closes this week.

The Guardian - UK

The Guardian view on curriculum reform: a mammoth and delicate task

Editorial: There is huge scope for improvement. Increasing the range of subjects while reducing exams would be a good way to start

The Independent UK

Financial incentives could help attract teachers to challenging schools – report

The research comes as teachers in England are embroiled in an ongoing dispute over pay.

The Independent UK

Disadvantaged pupils fall further behind peers in reading and maths, study shows

The findings have prompted those behind the research to call for pupil premium funding – which is targeted at poorer pupils – to be protected.

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