“Once-in-a-Generation” Curriculum and Assessment Review set to transform education

The Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR), the first major overhaul of England’s education framework in more than a decade, has now been published, marking what experts are calling a “once-in-a-generation” moment for schools, pupils, and families across the country.

Commissioned in 2024 by the Department for Education and led by Professor Becky Francis CBE, the review examines how well England’s national curriculum and assessment system supports academic excellence, prepares students for modern life and work, and removes barriers to opportunity. It follows an extensive year-long consultation process involving teachers, parents, employers, pupils, and education leaders.

Among its key recommendations, the report calls for:

• A stronger focus on local history in the curriculum.

• A greater emphasis on financial education for young people.

• Reforms to English teaching in primary schools to modernise outdated content.

• Mandatory citizenship education for primary pupils.

• An entitlement to triple and practical science for all students.

• The potential creation of a new A Level in Artificial Intelligence (AI).

• Streamlined assessments with fewer exam papers but maintained academic standards.

The review is expected to shape the educational experience of millions of children and redefine how families engage with learning for years to come.

In Devon, the Learning Academy Partnership (LAP), a trust of 18 primary schools across Devon and Torbay, has welcomed the review’s recognition of local history as a vital part of the national curriculum.

The trust’s schools already integrate Devon’s rich heritage into lessons, helping pupils connect national events with their local communities. Children learn about Sir Francis Drake, whose voyages are central to the region’s maritime legacy, and visit the Golden Hind replica in Brixham for immersive learning experiences. Older pupils explore the local impact of World War II, including Exercise Tiger, the ill-fated D-Day rehearsal at Slapton Sands where hundreds of American servicemen tragically lost their lives.

Tracey Cleverley, CEO of the Learning Academy Partnership, said:

“We’re delighted to see the value of local history recognised in this landmark review. At Learning Academy Partnership, we’ve long believed that helping children understand the stories of their own communities builds a stronger sense of identity, belonging and curiosity. This national focus is a welcome step forward and one we’re proud to already be delivering across our schools.”

The Curriculum and Assessment Review is the most comprehensive education reform since the introduction of the currently used National Curriculum in 2014. It responds to concerns from teachers and education experts that the existing system has become overloaded, outdated, and too narrowly focused on exam performance.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is expected to back calls for schools to place greater emphasis on local history, practical science, and real-world learning as part of a broader effort to modernise the curriculum and ensure pupils are “world-ready as well as work-ready.”

The report’s findings will now undergo consultation before being implemented in stages across England, with pilot programmes expected to begin in 2026.

For more information, the full review and consultation details can be found at gov.uk/education-review.