Tuesday 6 May, 14:30,
Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
The Education Committee will question trade unions and experts on
the interim report of the Curriculum and Assessment Review, as
well as exploring a key theme of the report – preparing young
people for the world of work.
Details of the Review, led by Professor Becky Francis, were
published in July
2024. Its interim report was published in
March.
In the first half of the session, witnesses including Tim Oates,
who led a review of the National Curriculum in 2010-11, will take
a broad look at the aims of the current Review and the strategic
changes it is suggesting could be made to primary and secondary
education.
Questions may cover the outcomes of previous curriculum reviews
which prompted a shift to a more ‘knowledge rich', content heavy
education; the balance between breadth and depth of subjects; and
whether more emphasis should be placed on children's wellbeing or
closing attainment gaps. MPs are also likely to ask how any
forthcoming reforms could be of benefit to children with special
educational needs and disabilities, and about the future of the
English Baccalaureate (EBacc) and the report's findings of
“major” problems with modern foreign languages teaching in
primary school.
In the second panel the cross-party Committee will turn its
attention to how the curriculum prepares young people to acquire
the skills needed in the economy and for employment.
Witnesses, including from the British Chambers of Commerce and
Confederation of British Industry, will be asked about the types
of skills that may be needed in the future, and to what extent
the current curriculum equips children with those skills. They
may also be asked whether the previous shift to a ‘knowledge
rich' curriculum crowded out schools' ability to teach skills,
and whether digital skills and AI should be prioritised in the
Curriculum Review.
This will be the first evidence session on the Review, a second
session will be announced in due course.
Witnesses from 14:30
- Jill Duffy, CEO, Oxford Cambridge and RSA (OCR)
- Tom Middlehurst, Deputy Director of Policy, ASCL
- Darren Northcott, National Official, NASUWT
- Tim Oates, CBE, Director of Assessment Research and
Development, Cambridge University Press & Assessment
From 15:30
- Nick Chambers, Chief Executive, Education and Employers
-
, Principal Research
Fellow, Sheffield Hallam University
- Mr Alex Vetch, Director of Policy and Insights, British
Chambers of Commerce
- Robert West, Head of Education & Skills, Future of Work,
CBI
