Curriculum and Assessment Review 2026-09-14
2026-09-14
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The Education Committee has been working on the review.
What steps she is taking to implement the recommendations of the curriculum and assessment review.
Reforms to curriculum and assessment go hand in hand with our vision to ensure that education is a passport for work, life and success. Becky Francis did a fantastic job for us on the review, and we will soon publish proposals to go out to consultation that build on it. The proposals will ensure a broader and more inclusive education system, with fewer barriers to progression, stronger technical and vocational options, more emphasis on oracy and more stepping-stone qualifications.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify concrete steps or timeline for implementation
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Q2
Partial Answer
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Evidence shows that outdoor education can improve mental health, physical health, and employability. A fifth of children in deprived areas never spend meaningful time outdoors.
The Government have committed to providing an enrichment entitlement for every child, including access to nature. However, when a fifth of children in the most deprived parts of the country never spend meaningful time outdoors, something has to change. Will the Secretary of State back my Outdoor Education Bill so that every child can grow up outdoors with better mental wellbeing, physical health, attainment, attendance and employability?
I think those issues go wider than the school system. This is a bigger piece about what childhood means in the 21st century, and how we can all support children to be independent, to have success and good wellbeing, and to be happy. Playing and being outdoors are of course a critical part of that.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address the specific ask about backing the Outdoor Education Bill
Issues Go Wider Than The School System
Bigger Piece About What Childhood Means In The 21St Century
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Q3
Direct Answer
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The curriculum and assessment review committed to strengthening financial literacy as a life skill.
To ensure we can deliver on that ambition, participating in the OECD's PISA financial literacy assessment will help us to both measure our progress and identify gaps in that progress. Can the Secretary of State set out what assessment she has made of the merits of UK participation in 2029, and will she meet me to discuss it?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and we have expressed an interest in taking part in the PISA financial literacy assessment in 2029. We recognise the importance of financial education for children and young people, which we will strengthen in the upcoming maths and citizenship curricula. I would be happy to meet with him to discuss how we can take that further.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q4
Partial Answer
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The Scottish Parliament has changed the law to entitle every young person at school to five days outdoors with four nights in residential accommodation, which brings massive benefits to their resilience, love of learning and capacity to work together in teams.
Given that 81% of children from the poorest backgrounds never get access to outdoor education, is it not time that we considered doing something similar?
I am absolutely with the hon. Member on the importance of residential activities, and for every young person to have access to them. I am not sure if Ghyll Head is in his constituency—
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address the specific ask about considering similar measures
Not Sure If Ghyll Head Is In His Constituency
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Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The Prime Minister has set out an ambition for the education system, including construction, coding, and classics.
Will the Secretary of State set out her vision for the arts and humanities in our curriculum to ensure that more young people take up these subjects, which are so good at empowering them with skills?
We have to recognise that the current offer in our education system has got narrower and narrower, and even bringing in measures such as the EBacc has not helped to preserve important subjects such as classics and computer science. In fact, they have fallen significantly since its introduction. I want to ensure that all our young people have access to these great academic subjects as well as to technical ones.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a specific vision for the arts and humanities
Current Offer In Our Education System Has Got Narrower
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Q6
Partial Answer
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The Secretary of State backtracked on an interview she gave to The Observer where she said she wanted to reintroduce coursework.
Over the weekend, the Secretary of State backtracked on an interview she gave to The Observer where she said she wanted to reintroduce coursework. For the record, we were very pleased to hear that, but in the same interview she made a number of other commitments, including reducing the number of exams that children take at age 16 and introducing a GCSE in football coaching. Which of those commitments does she still stand by?
Oh dear, Mr Speaker—honestly! They had a go at it last week and it did not go very well, so they are having another go this week. If the hon. Gentleman can find where I said that I wanted to bring back coursework then he can bring it to me, because I did not say that. [Interruption.] No, I did not at all.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address which commitments she still stands by
Had A Go At It Last Week And It Did Not Go Very Well
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