Mortgages and AI to be added to the curriculum in English schools
As the government continues to modernize the national curriculum in England's schools, children will learn how to budget and how mortgages work. Following the first review of what is taught in schools in over a decade, students will also be taught how to spot fake news and disinformation, as well as AI-generated content. The government wanted to revitalize
the curriculum, according to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, but it wanted to maintain a solid foundation
in basic subjects such as English, math, and reading. The study's findings, according to head teachers, were sensible,
but they did need "sufficient funding and teachers.
The changes came after the government ordered a review of the national curriculum and assessments in England last year in the hopes of creating a cutting edge
curriculum that would narrow attainment gaps between the most disadvantaged students and their peers. The study's findings, including scrapping the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), a progress measure for schools that was introduced in 2010, it said it would take up the majority of the report's recommendations. The EBacc assesses schools based on how many students enroll in English, maths, sciences, geography, or a language, as well as a dialect - and how well they do. The Department of Education (DfE) said the step was constraint
and that removing it alongside reforms to another school ranking system, Progress 8, would
vital step forwardencourage students to study a greater breadth of GCSE subjects, such as arts. Other changes as a result of the curriculum review include: The study found that oracy should be given the same prominence in the curriculum as reading and writing, which, according to charity Voice 21, was a
better sequencingin teaching children valuable speaking, listening, and communication skills. When asked what lessons will be cut from the school day, Phillipson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that it will not be a case of swapping out content for new topics but that overall, the curriculum will be
of the curriculum.We need to make sure we avoid duplicates so that children aren't repeating the things that they may have already learned.
However, the government is not following all of the study's recommendations. The year 8 students were reported in September reading tests, but the report found that compulsory English and maths assessments were required for that year group. Phillipson said that students who are unable to read fully and confidently
often fail in other subjects, which is why she stopped short of accepting the study's recommendation. And she denied rumors that ending the EBacc could result in fewer students studying history, geography, and languages at GCSE, saying that the initiative hasn't resulted in improved outcomes
or improvement in language study.
I want young people to have a wide variety of choices, including topics such as art and music and sports. I know that's what parents want as well,
she said. Ministers understood
she said, adding that schools would receive four terms of notice before being expected to teach the new curriculum.the need to execute this carefully, thoroughly, and with good notice,
Prof Becky Francis, the review's chairwoman, said that her panel of experts and the government had both identified a problem
pupil experience in the first years of secondary school.
she said.Typically, young people transition from primary to secondary school, and children from socioeconomic disadvantage backgrounds are particularly vulnerable,
The evaluation was evolution not revolution,
not revolution, according to her, with England's students already doing very well against international averages. The call for greater representation of diversity in the curriculum was not about
she said, but rather aboutgetting rid of basic texts and things that are obviously important to our culture,
leave children with a poorer grasp of our national story and hide standards from falling in schools.recognizing where, both nationally and internationally, there has been a wealth of contribution to science and cultural progress. The changes, according to shadow education secretary Laura Trott,
she said. Nick Gibb, the former Conservative Schools Minister, said that scrapping the EBacc wouldEducation vandalism will be the lasting legacy of the prime minister and Bridget Phillipson,
which he predicted would increasingly rely on private schools andlead to a precipitous decrease in the study of foreign languages,
scrapping rather than broaden the EBacc is not the right move. Head teachers were expected tochildren of middle-class parents who can afford tutors. Liberal Democrats have embraced the broadening of the curriculum, but
cut their budgets to the bone,according to Munira Wilson, a education spokeswoman, and they would be asking how they were supposed to fund the reforms.
she said. The study, according to Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, had recommendedThese reforms will push teachers even further and cost our children if there is no such thing as a costed plan and a good workforce strategy,
great curriculuma pragmatic, evidence-based series of reforms. However, he said that delivering a
also neededsufficient funding and teachers,
enrichment benchmarksas well as the fact that schools and colleges do not have all the services they need. A series of
had been revealedrandomly
andadded to the numerous questions regarding which schools are judged," he said.
