Now That We Have The Curriculum And Assessment Review Report, Should Schools Get On With Rewriting Curricula?
- Aidan Severs
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
The title really should read: 'Now That We Have The Curriculum And Assessment Review Report, And The Government Have Responded, Should Schools Get On With Rewriting Curricula?'
If you're not sure what's in the documents I've linked to above, there are a plethora of summaries online, including mine aimed at primary school leaders and teachers: https://www.aidansevers.com/post/what-primary-schools-need-to-know-from-the-curriculum-and-assessment-review (or you could go and read all 260 pages of the original docs)
Back to our question then.
Well, the first thing to consider is the fact that a revised national curriculum won't be published until 2027 and won't be taught until 2028 (I'm assuming that's September 2028). So, we have over 3 years to go until we start teaching the new curriculum and around 3 years until we might see the refreshed version.
I don't think there is a 'yes' or a 'no' answer to the question - it's going to be contextual.
Have you already identified changes that need making to your curriculum? If so, make them.
Will the children in your school benefit from the development of your school's curriculum? If so, develop it.
Do you want to make changes to your curriculum so that it aligns with the forthcoming 2028 curriculum? Probably best not to attempt this just yet. Hold your horses.
Are some of the review report recommendations that the government have accepted things that will really help the children in your school over the next 3 years? Then, perhaps you can begin to look at building them in ahead of 2028.
I'm sure there are many aspects of the CAR report that you agree with - content which needs adding, content which needs moving, content which needs removing. You can be getting on with some of this now, as long as:
it is done for the sake of the children
you still meet the requirements of the National Curriculum as it stands
Don't go making changes just because its in the CAR report or the governments' response, but do make the changes if it is right for your school, right now.
The fact is, September 2028 is a long time away. You don't want to be stuck with a stagnant curriculum for all that time. The children in your school aren't going to benefit from school leaders waiting it out.
Changes made to the curriculum now are not made unnecessary or pointless by the promise of a "refreshed" curriculum 3+ years away in the future. Curriculum development done now is purposeful and important, and can still build towards what we've been told is on its way.
If you were thinking of bolstering your art and design provision - go for it! The government have promised to "revitalise arts education" anyway. You can get the jump on that.
If you know your history curriculum needs diversifying and decolonising - get that sorted now. It's the government's intention to ensure that teachers can reflect the innate diversity of British history, including British Black and Asian history in their curriculum development, so there's no reason why you shouldn't make a start for the children in your school right now.
If your music curriculum isn't what it should be, and you know it needs a bit of investment, it's well worth doing that now. Music is life!
If you think your pupils could contribute to a better world by knowing more about the greenhouse effect, carbon emissions, the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, rising sea levels and extreme weather events, work out where they fit in your existing curriculum.
So, now that we have the Curriculum And Assessment Review Report, and the government have responded, should YOU get on with rewriting your curriculum?
My message is this:
Don't do anything as a knee-jerk reaction. Don't rewrite your curriculum because of the report.
Do do what you know needs doing. Do curriculum development work because you know you need it now. Do it for your pupils and your teachers. Make the best curriculum you can for the next 3 or so years.
Curriculum-development goes in cycles anyway - its never truly complete. 3 years is probably about the length of that review-rewrite cycle anyway so there is every reason to work on it now, and later on when the new NC is published.
If you've been holding your breath for the curriculum review, but now know that you've got pressing curriculum work to be done, why not get on with doing what is right for your pupils right now? Together we can make the changes that your school, teachers and pupils need in the next few years. Here's you 3-step plan to taking the load off yourself and making that happen:
Drop me an email
Have a phone call with me to talk about your school
We'll work together to empower you and your staff to enhance teaching and to enrich your pupils' lives
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