Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Curriculum and Assessment Review

Monday 10 March 2025 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Parents and pupils believe Ministers are out of touch regarding SATs in years 2 and 6, which are seen as a means to hold primary schools accountable and measure progress through secondary education.
  • Concerns about extremism and conspiracy theories encountered by young people online were raised, with a report highlighting the need for more action to address these issues in schools.
  • The Government is protecting key education priorities despite financial challenges, focusing on rebuilding schools and addressing issues like the decline in science subjects at GCSE under the previous Labour government.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Nick Timothy Con West Suffolk
Education
Context

The interim report on the curriculum and assessment review is due to be published. Nick Timothy asks about SATs in primary schools, citing concerns from the National Education Union.

Question

Parents and pupils will think that Ministers are on another planet when they hear such answers. SATs in years 2 and 6 mean that primary schools can be held accountable, and that we can measure progress data through secondary education, but the National Education Union says that SATs ‘do not benefit learning’ and wants the Government to abolish them. Will the Minister rule out abolishing SATs in primary schools—yes or no?

Answer from The Minister for School Standards (Catherine McKinnell)

Assessment clearly has an important role to play in supporting achievement and development within schools. We will consider how the reformed curriculum and assessment will affect schools. We recognise the importance of supporting schools through any changes that come forward in the interim and final report.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a clear yes or no answer regarding abolishing SATs.

How: Consider How Reformed Curriculum Will Affect Schools

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Q2 Alistair Strathern Lab Hitchin
Education Children & Families
Context

Concerns about extremism and conspiracy theories online among young people have been highlighted by a report from Public First and the Pears Foundation.

Question

From the rise of Andrew Tate to the re-emergence of Tommy Robinson, lots of young people I speak to are concerned about the extremism and conspiracy theories that they are encountering online. Last month, an important report from Public First and the Pears Foundation highlighted the need to do more to empower schools and teachers to tackle those things in the classroom. How will we use the curriculum review to make the most of this moment to empower young people to feel safer in online spaces?

Answer from The Minister for School Standards (Catherine McKinnell)

My hon. Friend raises an important point. We already provide guidance and resources to help and support teachers to recognise some of those challenges, to intervene swiftly where necessary, and not to tolerate a culture that excuses harm and the experiences of women. Schools must be places where all young people can thrive and be ready for work and life. We will ensure that the curriculum and assessment review reflects that.

Answered
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Q3 Neil O’Brien Con Harborough, Oadby and Wigston
Education
Context

The rise in England’s schools in international league tables is attributed to the focus on core academic subjects such as English and maths. Concerns that time might be taken away from these subjects during the curriculum review.

Question

One reason why England’s schools rose up the international league tables in recent years is that they spent more time on core academic subjects such as English and maths. Having fallen sharply under the last Labour Government, the share of pupils doing double or triple science at GCSE has also gone up from 70% to 98%. Can the Minister reassure the House that time will not be taken away from the core academic subjects, and that their content will not be cut back, as a result of the curriculum review?

Answer from The Minister for School Standards (Catherine McKinnell)

The Government entered office to unprecedented challenges, including crumbling public services and crippling public finances. In the face of a significant financial black hole we are taking tough decisions to fix the foundations, but we are protecting key education priorities, rebuilding schools and rolling out breakfast clubs, and we will continue to do so.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific reassurances about core academic subjects remaining a focus during the curriculum review.

How: Protecting Key Education Priorities

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