Our response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review

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📣 F4S is proud to have submitted our response to the Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review!

This autumn, the Government launched an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, led by Professor Becky Francis. The review focuses on identifying the most critical challenges in curriculum and assessment, with particular attention to supporting children and young people from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs or disabilities. These groups continue to face the most significant barriers in education. The review also aims to ensure that the curriculum prepares students with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in their futures.

To share our insights and expertise, we submitted a response to the Call for Evidence. Our response reflects F4S’s commitment to shaping a future-ready education system. To develop our evidence, we hosted roundtable discussions and collaborated closely with partners, including the Careers and Enterprise Company, The Royal Society, Cambridge Assessment, MATs, and educators. These vital voices—who shape education every day—were at the heart of our submission.

We emphasised that education must evolve to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to succeed in an increasingly complex, technology-driven world. Breaking down barriers to opportunity is critical, and the social and economic value of equipping students with transferable skills cannot be overstated. We are pleased to have been helping teachers do that now for ten years via our services that provides resources and experts who help the navigation of the tech driven world easier.

Summary of Recommendations

  1. Social Justice and Inclusion
    • The Department for Education should encourage schools to adopt proven initiatives from charities like F4S to break down barriers faced by SEND students, girls, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds by connecting them with relatable role models and career opportunities.
    • Scale successful programs nationwide to deliver tailored role models and career insights at minimal cost.
  2. Ensuring an Excellent Foundation in Maths
    • Revise the mathematics curriculum to integrate data analysis, statistics, and computational tools, ensuring students gain practical, future-ready skills.
    • Mandate schools adopt highly effective intervention programmes like F4S’s Maths4Girls to inspire more girls to pursue mathematics beyond age 16, addressing gender disparities and encouraging STEM career pathways
  3. Curriculum and Qualification Content
    • Require schools to provide at least three meaningful employer encounters annually.
    • Promote AI literacy and professional development for teachers to integrate AI effectively into classrooms
  4. A Broad and Balanced Curriculum
    • Embed skills-based activities throughout the curriculum to ensure a better balance between academic success and essential life skills
    • Streamline subject content to foster deeper engagement and accommodate skills-based learning

These changes are essential for breaking down barriers to opportunity and preparing young people for a complex, technology-driven future. The social and economic benefits of investing in education that equips students with these transferable skills cannot be overstated.

🔗 Read our full response here

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed and supported us throughout this process. Together, we’re working to create an education system that empowers every student.

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