Lord John Nash is an honorary fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and the founder of Future Academies, an organisation that supports 11 schools across London and Hertfordshire. This article will look at moves by the UK Government to bring the curriculum into the modern day, helping to prepare young people for the world of work and adulthood.
Responding to recommendations set out in the Curriculum and Assessment Review released by Professor Becky Francis in November 2025, the UK Government has created a learning framework to ensure that every young person has a comprehensive grasp of the basics of literacy, maths and science, along with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in work and life. The measures are intended to ensure that children and young people leave school fully equipped to thrive in the modern world, with the curriculum changes intended to raise school standards and boost opportunities for young people.
The revitalised curriculum lies at the heart of government plans to deliver the prime minister’s target of ensuring two-thirds of youth participate in higher-level learning by the age of 25, providing them with the skills necessary to get on at work and in life. As part of the government’s plans, primary-aged children will be taught how to identify misinformation and disinformation and spot fake news, helping them to develop the critical thinking skills necessary to challenge what they see online and protect them from harm. Primary school pupils will also be taught the fundamentals of money management, with the government recognising that children are rapidly becoming consumers in their own right before they reach secondary school. The curriculum changes are also intended to impart important changes to strengthen children’s reading skills.
The UK Government unveiled plans to introduce a new statutory reading test for Year 8 pupils, as well as a strengthening of writing assessment for Year 6 pupils, helping educators to identify children in need of extra support at a crucial point in their development. Research suggests that, currently, around 1 in 4 children in the UK leave primary school without basic reading skills, with too many leaving school without passing their English GCSE. The new test for Year 8 pupils is designed to pinpoint students who could benefit from extra support while repairing falling standards in the ‘lost years’ at the start of secondary school, when too many young people from working-class backgrounds fall behind.
Under the new curriculum, GCSEs in arts subjects will receive equal recognition with those in languages and humanities, acknowledging their vital importance in broadening skills and building confidence for a competitive job market. In addition, a new core enrichment entitlement will give students access to sport, civic engagement, nature and adventure, arts and culture, and life skills to help them build resilience and opportunity.
Following the first major review of the curriculum in more than a decade, the changes are being enacted to ensure learning in the UK provides young people with all the skills necessary to thrive in the modern world. The changes are designed to provide a world-leading curriculum, providing every child with a better, more balanced education and a firm foundation for life beyond school. In addition to providing a clearer structure, stronger foundations and inclusive support for children of all abilities, the changes also provide more choice, with improvements to specific subjects, including reinforcing the importance of physical education, revitalising arts subjects and setting clearer language expectations for primary school students.
The new curriculum focuses on boosting crucial skills, providing access to enriching activities and helping children improve their computer literacy. The changes also include new vocational qualifications in the form of V Levels, introducing a new qualification after GCSEs for pupils following a vocational route.
