Guide to the New National Curriculum: Key Points

Although change can feel constant in education, the national curriculum has not been updated since 2014. Now the government has announced a new national curriculum designed to give young people the skills for life and work they will need over the next decade.

But what does the new national curriculum mean for you as a teacher? We’ve looked at the details available so far. This guide summarises the upcoming changes and explains what they mean for your day-to-day classroom practice. 

Key Takeaways

• The new national curriculum strengthens literacy, numeracy and digital skills, with clearer expectations for reading and writing at KS2 and KS3.

• Progression is now more explicit across all subjects, helping teachers plan sequences and identify gaps earlier.

• The curriculum places greater emphasis on skills for modern life, including media literacy, financial literacy and digital safety.

• Broader subject access and a new enrichment entitlement give pupils wider opportunities in arts, culture, sport and civic engagement.

• Teachers will have clearer guidance and a long preparation window, but schemes of work and assessments will need updating.

What Is the New National Curriculum?

The new national curriculum is a significant update designed to reflect the world your pupils are growing up in and equip them with the knowledge and skills they need for life and work over the next decade. 

It responds directly to Professor Becky Francis’s Curriculum and Assessment Review (opens in a new tab) and forms a core part of the government’s Plan for Change, which aims to raise standards, close gaps, and increase access to higher-level learning.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson (opens in a new tab) has said of the changes, “It has been over a decade since the national curriculum was updated, and it’s more crucial than ever that young people are equipped to face the challenges of today, so they can seize the exciting opportunities that life has to offer.”

When Will the New Curriculum Be Implemented?

The final curriculum will be published by spring 2027, with first teaching from September 2028.  Schools will have four terms to plan, prepare and adapt. The government will provide sample materials, training and guidance to support phased implementation.

Why Has the Curriculum Changed?

This update has been introduced to address the well-known challenges in progression, relevance and equity, and to ensure pupils are prepared for a rapidly changing world. 

This reflects what teachers have been saying for years about the need for clearer expectations and better alignment across phases.

Here are the key drivers behind the changes:

1. A stronger grip on the basics

National data shows that 1 in 4 pupils leave primary school unable to read properly (opens in a new tab), and too many students fall behind in the early years of secondary school.
The new curriculum strengthens:

• reading through a new statutory Year 8 reading test

• writing through a strengthened Year 6 assessment

• core expectations in maths and science

This is intended to catch pupils who need support earlier and stretch those who are ready for more of a challenge.

2. Skills for the modern world

Pupils need to develop skills that go beyond subject content. The updated curriculum embeds:

• media literacy

• financial literacy

• digital safety and digital competence

• critical thinking and problem solving

• oracy, supported by new primary and secondary frameworks

These are integrated across subjects rather than taught as separate add-ons.

3. Preparation for future study and work

The reforms align learning with employer and university expectations through:

• a new Computing GCSE

• exploration of a new data science and AI qualification for 16–18-year-olds

• an expectation that all pupils can access triple science

The aim is to build stronger digital, scientific and analytical foundations.

4. Greater equity and inclusion

To ensure all pupils can access the curriculum, the reforms introduce:

• compulsory citizenship education in primary schools

• more diverse examples, texts and content

• clearer expectations and support for tackling attainment gaps

• greater flexibility to allow schools to adapt content to meet their pupils’ needs

5. A richer, more balanced curriculum

The reforms broaden student opportunities by:

• giving arts GCSEs equal status with humanities and languages

• removing the EBacc

• reforming Progress 8

• introducing a core enrichment entitlement across sport, arts, nature, civic engagement and life skills

6. Coherence and clarity for teachers

Teachers asked for clearer progression and better alignment across phases. The new curriculum has responded by:

• offering more explicit sequencing

• reducing duplication

• supporting mapping through a new digital, machine-readable format

This is designed to make curriculum planning easier and more consistent.

What Are the Key Changes?

There’s a lot to take in. Here’s what we know so far about the reforms that matter most for your classroom.

Curriculum Structure and Progression

The Key Stage structure stays the same, but expectations are much clearer. The result should see pupils build knowledge step by step, with fewer gaps and less duplication.

You’ll see:

• explicit year-by-year progression across all subjects

• clearer end points at each key stage

• consistent terminology to support joined-up planning

• stronger alignment between primary and secondary to avoid the “lost years” in early KS3

• a digital, machine-readable curriculum to help you map and sequence learning more efficiently

Subject Updates and Thematic Reforms

English: Reading, Writing and Oracy

Literacy is a major focus. The key changes here are aimed at boosting attainment and addressing that early KS3 drop-off, particularly for disadvantaged pupils.

They include:

• a new statutory Year 8 reading test to identify pupils needing stretch or support

• a strengthened Year 6 writing assessment for secure foundations before secondary

• a new primary oracy framework

• a combined secondary oracy–reading–writing framework

• continued emphasis on vocabulary, fluency, comprehension and structured talk

Maths

Maths expectations remain broadly familiar, but are more clearly sequenced. 

You can expect:

• more explicit progression from KS1 to KS4

• stronger emphasis on number, algebra, ratio and problem solving

• clearer guidance on reasoning

• recommended use of manipulatives in early years and KS1

• wider use of visual models

Science

Science content is updated to reflect modern STEM fields. 

Changes include:

• refreshed subject content

• more emphasis on enquiry and practical work

• clearer progression in “working scientifically”

• strengthened vocabulary and data interpretation

• a national move towards triple science for all (statutory entitlement planned)

Computing, Data Science and AI

Digital competence is a major focus. The curriculum will:

• replace the current Computer Science GCSE with a broader Computing GCSE

• explore a post-16 qualification in data science and AI

• embed digital competence and online safety from primary onwards

Citizenship, Media Literacy and Financial Education

For the first time, these areas are statutory and embedded throughout learning:

• compulsory citizenship in primary school

• media literacy, including spotting misinformation and disinformation

• strengthened financial literacy

Arts, Humanities and Subject Breadth

The reforms restore breadth and remove barriers to creative subjects, recognising their role in confidence, wellbeing and employability. Schools will see:

• Aarts GCSEs given equal status to humanities and languages

• removal of the EBacc

• Progress 8 reforms to support a wider subject mix

Climate Education and Sustainability

Climate and nature content will be strengthened across science and geography with:

• clearer guidance on climate and environmental education

• updated expectations reflecting current science

• more opportunities for outdoor and sustainability-focused learning

The Core Enrichment Entitlement

Every pupil will have guaranteed access to enrichment across five areas:

• civic engagement

• arts and culture

• nature, outdoor and adventure

• sport and physical activity

• wider life skills

Ofsted will consider enrichment as part of routine inspection, and new school profile information will make this transparent to parents.

How Will This Affect Teachers?

The reforms build on the good practice already happening in your classrooms. But they will inevitably bring some clear shifts in your planning, literacy expectations, subject content and enrichment. 

Because the final curriculum will be published in spring 2027, you will have four terms to prepare before first teaching in September 2028.

1. Planning and Curriculum Design

You will need to review long-term plans so they reflect the clearer progression model and new content. Expect to incorporate:

• year-by-year expectations across all subjects

• new requirements in media literacy, financial literacy and primary citizenship

• strengthened literacy and oracy expectations

• updated science, computing and climate education content

The digital, machine-readable curriculum will make mapping and sequencing easier.

2. Literacy and Oracy Responsibilities

All teachers will contribute to strengthening pupils’ communication skills. You will see:

• a new primary oracy framework

• a combined secondary oracy–reading–writing framework

• stronger focus on vocabulary, structured talk and subject-specific language

• support for pupils ahead of the new Year 8 reading test

3. Subject Updates

Some subjects will need more significant adjustments:

• Computing: broader Computing GCSE replaces Computer Science

• Science: strengthened practical work and preparation for wider triple science participation

• English: updated reading and writing expectations

• Citizenship: now compulsory in primary school

• Arts: elevated status as EBacc is removed

These changes may affect schemes of work, resources and timetabling.

4. Assessment Adjustments

Assessment will become clearer and more consistent. You will see:

• a strengthened Year 6 writing assessment

• a statutory Year 8 reading test

• greater emphasis on formative assessment

• updated summative assessments to reflect new sequencing and skills

• future changes to Progress 8 and the removal of EBacc

Schools will be revising internal assessments once the final curriculum is published.

5. Enrichment and Wider Provision

Schools must ensure every pupil has access to activities across:

• civic engagement

• arts and culture

• nature, outdoor and adventure

• sport and physical activity

• wider life skills

Teachers may help lead or coordinate activities. 

6. CPD and Professional Support

You can expect extensive support throughout 2027 and 2028, since the government has committed to a phased, workload-sensitive approach. This should include:

• subject-specific CPD

• exemplification materials for literacy, oracy and subject content

• guidance for sequencing and assessment

• protected planning time within departments and phases

Assessment and Reporting Changes

The new curriculum brings several changes to assessment, with a stronger focus on early identification of need, clearer expectations and long-term learning.

1. Key Literacy Assessment Changes

Two confirmed national updates will directly affect KS2 and KS3:

• A strengthened Year 6 writing assessment to ensure secure writing foundations before secondary.

• A new statutory reading test in Year 8 to identify pupils who need targeted support or additional stretch before GCSE pathways.

2. Clearer, More Consistent Assessment Framework

Across subjects, assessment will align more closely with the new progression model. You can expect:

• clearer descriptions of what secure progress looks like at each stage

• more consistent language between subjects

• expectations that focus on what pupils can apply, not just recall

3. Stronger Emphasis on Formative Assessment

The reforms reinforce the value of ongoing, low-stakes assessment embedded within teaching. Schools are encouraged to use approaches such as retrieval practice, short diagnostic checks and responsive feedback to support durable learning. 

This is not a new direction, but it is now explicitly built into the curriculum model.

4. Updates to Summative Assessment

Schools will continue to use end-of-unit and end-of-year assessments, but these will be reviewed and updated once the final curriculum is published. Summative assessment will:

• reflect new sequencing and curriculum content

• place more emphasis on applied understanding

• support long-term retention rather than performance on isolated tasks

5. Changes to Accountability Measures

Two national accountability reforms are confirmed:

• EBacc is being removed, allowing schools greater freedom to offer a broader GCSE subject mix.

• Progress 8 will be reformed to support greater curriculum breadth (details to follow).

6. Reporting to Parents and Carers

Clearer expectations within each subject will result in more consistent reporting to families.

You’ll also be sharing information about how your school meets the new enrichment entitlement through updated school profiles.

How to Prepare for the New Curriculum

The process will be gradual, and you’ll be able to prepare fully during the four-term preparation window after the final curriculum arrives in spring 2027. However, here are some steps you can take now towards the transition.

1. Review Your Current Curriculum

Start by comparing your long-term plans with the confirmed reforms. Focus on areas where expectations are clearly shifting, such as:

• strengthened reading, writing and oracy

• media literacy, financial literacy and digital safety

• updated computing and science content

• citizenship in primary

• broader arts and enrichment opportunities

Identify what already aligns well and where sequencing or content needs updating.

2. Strengthen Progression

Because a core aim of the reform is smoother year-to-year progression, you may:

• refine unit sequencing

• reduce unnecessary overlap

• agree on consistent vocabulary and models

• pinpoint where key skills (working scientifically, reasoning, structured talk) should build over time

3. Prepare for Literacy Expectations in Every Subject

Because new oracy, reading and writing frameworks apply to all subjects, consider:

• opportunities for structured talk and explanation

• the reading demands of your subject

• how you model precise, subject-specific writing

• support for pupils who need extra help with reading

This is about refining your existing practice, rather than adding workload.

4. Build CPD into Department and Whole-School Planning

Ahead of national CPD and exemplification materials, your school can:

• discuss new content within departments

• co-plan example units

• agree shared approaches to vocabulary, reasoning and feedback

• look to subject associations for early guidance

5. Map Resource Needs

You do not need new materials yet, but early planning helps with budgeting. Possible needs include:

• new texts or reading materials

• practical equipment (especially in science)

• updated computing resources

• materials for financial/media literacy or citizenship

• enrichment resources

6. Plan for the New Enrichment Entitlement

Schools must provide enrichment across all five entitlement areas. A simple first step is to map what you already offer and identify gaps.

7. Stay Updated and Use the Preparation Window Effectively

Look out for further updates offering advice and information. Once the final curriculum is published in 2027, you’ll have four terms to:

• refine sequencing

• update assessments

• adjust schemes of work

• trial approaches in pilot units

• deliver CPD with accurate content

Frequently Asked Questions

What support is available for teachers adapting to the new curriculum?

Schools will offer CPD on the new literacy and oracy frameworks, subject updates and assessment changes. 

National exemplification materials will follow once the final curriculum is published in spring 2027, and subject associations will release planning guidance and sample units.

Do schools have flexibility in how they implement the changes?

Yes. The curriculum sets out what pupils should learn, but schools can choose how to sequence content, which pedagogies to use and which resources best suit their context.

Will existing assessments change under the new curriculum?

Yes. Two changes are confirmed: a new statutory Year 8 reading test and strengthened Year 6 writing assessment. Schools will also update internal assessments to match the clearer progression model. Further GCSE changes will follow once subject content is finalised.

How can I explain the changes to parents?

Reassure families that the reforms strengthen core skills, broaden subject opportunities, improve enrichment and that changes will be introduced gradually with a long preparation window. Schools will publish updated curriculum information once the final version is released in 2027.

Final Thoughts

The new national curriculum is a significant update, but its purpose is straightforward: to strengthen core learning, restore subject breadth and give pupils the skills they need for life and work. For teachers, it offers clearer progression, updated frameworks and a long lead-in period to prepare.

You don’t need to change everything at once. Gradual adjustments, shared planning, and focused CPD will make the transition manageable. As guidance and exemplification arrive, you’ll have the clarity you need to introduce the changes confidently and support your pupils throughout the process.

References:

• Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report - (opens in a new tab)GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)

• New curriculum to give young people the skills for life and work - (opens in a new tab)GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)

• Key stage 2 attainment: National headlines, Academic year 2024/25 - Explore education statistics (opens in a new tab)

• What you need to know about the changes to the National Curriculum | Education Hub (opens in a new tab)