Curriculum overhaul to re-engage pupils in vital early secondary years

The government is overhauling Key Stage 3, the first three years of secondary school, to address widespread disengagement among pupils aged 11 to 14. Research from the Milburn Review, White Working Class Education Inquiry, and Becky Francis Curriculum and Assessment Review highlighted concerns about declining attendance, attainment, and life outcomes during this critical phase. The changes aim to restore Key Stage 3 as a distinct period focused on deeper learning and richer experiences rather than early GCSE preparation.

To combat disengagement, the new National Curriculum will reduce overcrowded content and better sequence learning across all school stages. Core skills such as oracy, fluent reading, and numeracy will receive greater emphasis, alongside more engaging subjects like drama, PE, music, modern foreign languages, and digital skills. Schools will be expected to stop early GCSE teaching, which has become widespread despite being intended for Year 10 onwards.

The changes are particularly targeted at white working-class pupils, who face higher rates of persistent absence in secondary school compared to primary. Persistent absence nearly doubles between Years 7 and 9, with rates 75% higher for this group. The government’s reforms aim to address this by ensuring Key Stage 3 provides a broad, engaging curriculum that fosters a love of learning and reduces early disengagement.

The overhaul includes a new enrichment framework to support schools in offering richer experiences beyond the classroom, such as practical experiments and debates. This aims to make school more inspiring and tackle the sharp drop in engagement and attendance during early secondary years. The government stresses that the reforms are not about lowering academic expectations but about giving pupils time to build secure foundations while exploring new interests.