The Curriculum and Assessment Review is expected to bring significant changes to secondary education, with a revised National Curriculum due in 2027 and implementation from September 2028. This article explores the key themes emerging from the review, including oracy, assessment reform, digital skills, careers education, sustainability, climate literacy and the future of science education, and examines what these developments could mean for secondary schools.
Estimated read time: 7 minutes
Last week, we explored what the Curriculum and Assessment Review could mean for primary schools. This week, we turn our attention to secondary education, where some of the review's most significant recommendations are likely to be felt.
Following the publication of the final review report in November 2025, the government accepted many of its recommendations and is now working towards a revised National Curriculum, expected to be published in 2027 and introduced in schools from September 2028.
As part of our commitment to supporting schools through curriculum change, Developing Experts attended the BESA Curriculum Conference to gain early insights into the review. In this blog, we explore the key themes emerging from the review and consider what they could mean for secondary schools.
Oracy is expected to play a much bigger role in secondary education, with greater emphasis placed on speaking, listening, discussion, debate and presentation skills across all subjects. Rather than being confined to English lessons, oracy is likely to become a ‘golden thread’ running throughout the National Curriculum 2027. This increased focus aims to develop students' confidence, communication skills and critical thinking, while creating more opportunities for structured discussion, collaboration and the articulation of ideas across the school day.
A central theme of the review is the need to ensure that learning remains relevant to the world young people are growing up in. The review points towards a greater emphasis on media literacy, digital literacy, financial education, sustainability, climate literacy and civic participation, helping students develop the knowledge and skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex society. There is also a stronger focus on applying learning to real-world contexts, enabling students to see the relevance of their studies beyond the classroom. Here at Developing Experts, our lessons include Expert Films where students can see the application of their classroom learning in real, workplace contexts.
The review also highlights the importance of improving access to high-quality science education. One proposal attracting particular attention is the ambition for more students to study Triple Science, recognising the value of a strong science education for future careers and economic growth. However, delivering these ambitions may prove challenging given ongoing shortages of specialist science teachers, particularly in Physics. Have a look at our fully-resourced KS3 and KS4 Science Curricula.
Citizenship is expected to become a more prominent feature of the secondary curriculum, helping students develop a deeper understanding of their role in society. The review highlights the importance of areas such as rights and responsibilities, diversity and inclusion, community engagement, and local, national and global issues. Schools may also see stronger links between curriculum content and personal development, supporting young people to become informed, responsible and active citizens.
The Curriculum and Assessment Review places a greater emphasis on helping students make meaningful connections between subjects, encouraging a more coherent and joined-up approach to learning. Schools may be encouraged to explore interdisciplinary themes such as sustainability, globalisation, technology and society, and health and wellbeing, helping students understand how knowledge and skills transfer across different areas of the curriculum.
Sustainability and globalisation present particularly strong opportunities for collaboration between subjects. Geography is well placed to help schools weave these themes throughout the curriculum, providing the context and real-world perspectives needed to explore some of today's most pressing challenges. Alongside this, the government has committed to strengthening climate education across the curriculum, with Science identified as a key driver of climate literacy. At a time when misinformation around climate science is widespread, developing students' ability to evaluate evidence and think critically has never been more important. Developing Experts' Secondary Science resources already support schools in exploring these interconnected themes, helping students build a coherent understanding of sustainability, climate science and global challenges. Our KS3 Geography curriculum is currently being developed and will complement our Science resources, helping schools weave sustainability, climate education and globalisation throughout the curriculum.
Assessment is one of the most closely watched areas of the Curriculum and Assessment Review, particularly at GCSE level. While there are no plans to remove GCSEs, the review raises concerns about the current assessment system and the pressures it can place on students and schools. Proposed changes include reducing assessment burden, with suggestions that overall exam time could be reduced by around 10%, alongside a broader recognition of student achievement beyond traditional examinations. The review also proposes changes to Progress 8, with Science potentially receiving two dedicated slots, giving it the same weighting as English and Maths. If implemented, this could further strengthen the position of Science within secondary curriculum planning.
The review recognises that rapid technological change is transforming both education and the workplace. As a result, the future curriculum is likely to place greater emphasis on digital competence across subjects, helping students use technology confidently, responsibly and effectively. There is also growing recognition of the importance of understanding artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, alongside the ability to evaluate digital information critically.
The Curriculum and Assessment Review also places a strong emphasis on helping young people understand how their learning connects to future opportunities. This includes a greater focus on employability skills, enterprise, entrepreneurship, encounters with employers and a clearer understanding of how subject knowledge can lead to a wide range of careers. For secondary schools, this could mean more opportunities to embed careers education across the curriculum, helping students see the real-world relevance of what they are learning.
This is an area where Developing Experts is already ahead of the curve. Through our Career Films and curriculum resources, students are introduced to a diverse range of professionals and industries, helping them make meaningful connections between classroom learning and future pathways. As schools look to strengthen careers education in response to the review, these real-world links will become increasingly important in inspiring aspirations and preparing students for the world beyond school.
While many of the proposed changes are still some years away, secondary schools may wish to start thinking about how the review could influence future curriculum planning. This could include reviewing curriculum models to ensure sufficient depth, coherence and opportunities for cross-curricular learning, while embedding oracy and disciplinary literacy more consistently across subjects.
Schools may also want to audit their current provision for citizenship, sustainability, media literacy, digital skills and careers education, identifying where these themes are already taught and where further development may be needed. With an increased emphasis on real-world application, departments may need to consider how they help students connect their learning to future pathways and contemporary issues.
Although changes to GCSE qualifications are unlikely to be immediate, curriculum and assessment reforms from 2028 onwards remain a possibility, making it sensible for schools to stay informed as further details emerge.
At Developing Experts, we are actively preparing for the changes outlined in the Curriculum and Assessment Review and remain committed to supporting schools every step of the way. As more information becomes available, we will share a clear roadmap for the release of updated units and lessons, helping schools plan and implement changes with confidence. Alongside curriculum alignment, we will continue to invest in enhancing the platform through refreshed Expert and Career films, increased use of animations, improved differentiation and more comprehensive answer materials. We will also take the opportunity to review the valuable suggestions submitted through our feedback form, ensuring that customer feedback continues to inform the development of our resources. By combining curriculum updates with ongoing improvements across the platform, we aim to provide schools with the tools and support they need as the new curriculum framework emerges.
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