Education

UK curriculum overhaul introduces life skills, AI literacy and drops EBacc to modernise education

Wednesday, 5 November 2025 5:06AM UTC

The UK government unveils a comprehensive overhaul of the national curriculum, emphasising life skills, AI literacy, and curriculum breadth, in a move to better prepare pupils for modern challenges while controversially scrapping the EBacc measure.

The UK government is undertaking a significant overhaul of the national curriculum in England, aimed at equipping pupils with essential life skills for the modern world while maintaining a strong emphasis on foundational subjects such as English, maths, and reading. Among the new key subjects to be introduced are financial literacy, including practical lessons on budgeting and understanding mortgages, as well as critical skills to identify fake news and disinformation, particularly around AI-generated content. These changes follow the first comprehensive curriculum review in over a decade and represent the government’s effort to modernise education to better prepare students for future challenges.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has articulated the government’s intention to “revitalise” the curriculum, ensuring students receive a broad and balanced education that extends beyond traditional academic knowledge. The review, commissioned last year, calls for a more inclusive and contemporary approach to schooling that addresses attainment gaps, particularly among disadvantaged pupils, and incorporates emerging issues such as climate change and data science. The government plans to incorporate most of the review’s recommendations, including scrapping the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), a performance measure introduced in 2010, which has been criticised for constraining students’ subject choices, particularly limiting access to arts and creative subjects.

The scrapping of the EBacc has drawn mixed reactions. Former Conservative schools minister Nick Gibb warned it could lead to a “precipitous decline” in modern foreign language study, potentially reserving these opportunities for private schools and middle-class families who can afford tutoring. However, Phillipson countered such claims by saying the EBacc had not resulted in improved educational outcomes or increased language uptake, and emphasised the need for curriculum breadth, including arts, music, and sports, which parents also desire.

More detailed reforms include integrating financial literacy into maths lessons and compulsory citizenship education in primary schools, enhancing students’ ability to critique misinformation, introducing a new post-16 qualification focusing on data science and AI, ensuring all pupils sit three separate science GCSEs, and embedding more content on climate change and diversity representation. The review also recommended elevating oracy—the skills of speaking and listening—to the same level of importance as reading and writing, a move welcomed by the education charity Voice 21, which hailed it as a crucial step for developing communication skills.

The government is not adopting all suggestions, however. It has decided to proceed with reading tests for Year 8 pupils, despite recommendations to make both English and maths tests compulsory for that year. Phillipson justified this by noting that pupils unable to read fluently often struggle across other subjects.

Concerns around implementation have been raised, particularly regarding funding and staffing. Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, described the proposed reforms as “sensible” and “evidence-based” but highlighted that delivering a quality curriculum requires adequate resources, including experienced teachers and sufficient funding. He also noted that new enrichment benchmarks—which cover civic engagement, arts, nature, sport, and life skills—have been introduced somewhat abruptly, adding to the increasing demands on schools.

Professor Becky Francis, who chaired the review, stressed an “evolution not revolution” approach, acknowledging that English pupils already score relatively well against international benchmarks. She pointed to the early secondary school years as a critical period when learning often falters, especially for children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. Francis also emphasised that broadening curriculum diversity does not mean discarding core cultural texts, but rather recognising diverse contributions to science and culture globally.

The reforms come alongside efforts to integrate trustworthy AI tools to support teachers, with the government launching initiatives to develop reliable generative AI systems trained on approved curricula and lesson plans. These tools aim to assist teachers in administrative tasks like marking homework and creating materials, potentially easing workloads and enhancing educational delivery.

Not all political voices have welcomed the changes. Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott criticised the reforms, suggesting they would dilute pupils’ understanding of the national story and represent “education vandalism” under the current government leadership.

Overall, the government's curriculum reforms represent a comprehensive attempt to modernise education, blending traditional academic strength with contemporary life skills, digital literacy, and broader subject choices. The success of these changes will depend on careful, well-supported implementation and the balancing of diverse educational priorities.

📌 Reference Map:

^[1] (My Joy Online) - Paragraphs 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
^[2] (Gov.uk announcement) - Paragraphs 1, 2
^[3] (Gov.uk AI tools) - Paragraph 6
^[1], ^[2], ^[3] - Paragraph 6, 12
^[1] (My Joy Online) - Paragraph 9, 10
^[1], ^[2] (Gov.uk announcements) - Paragraph 11, 12

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.myjoyonline.com/mortgages-and-ai-to-be-added-to-the-curriculum-in-english-schools/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-curriculum-to-give-young-people-the-skills-for-life-and-work - The UK government has announced reforms to modernise the national curriculum, aiming to equip students with essential skills for the modern world of work. These reforms include enhancing financial literacy, teaching students how to budget and understand mortgages, and improving their ability to identify misinformation and disinformation, including AI-generated content. The initiative seeks to revitalise the curriculum while maintaining a strong foundation in core subjects like English, maths, and reading. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasised the importance of these changes in preparing students for future challenges.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/teachers-to-get-more-trustworthy-ai-tech-as-generative-tools-learn-from-new-bank-of-lesson-plans-and-curriculums-helping-them-mark-homework-and-save - The UK government has launched a project to enhance the reliability of AI tools used by teachers. By creating a new repository of lesson plans and curricula, AI companies can train their tools to generate accurate, high-quality content. This initiative aims to assist teachers in marking homework, creating teaching materials, and managing routine school administration, thereby reducing their workload and improving educational outcomes.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-reforms-to-raise-standards-and-improve-behaviour - The UK government has introduced reforms to raise educational standards and improve student behaviour. A key change is the introduction of a new grading system, where a 'good pass' is now defined as a grade 5, comparable to a high C or low B. This system aims to better align with international standards and provide clearer expectations for students, parents, and educators.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-reforms-to-raise-standards-and-improve-behaviour - The UK government has announced reforms to raise educational standards and improve student behaviour. A key change is the introduction of a new grading system, where a 'good pass' is now defined as a grade 5, comparable to a high C or low B. This system aims to better align with international standards and provide clearer expectations for students, parents, and educators.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-reforms-to-raise-standards-and-improve-behaviour - The UK government has introduced reforms to raise educational standards and improve student behaviour. A key change is the introduction of a new grading system, where a 'good pass' is now defined as a grade 5, comparable to a high C or low B. This system aims to better align with international standards and provide clearer expectations for students, parents, and educators.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-reforms-to-raise-standards-and-improve-behaviour - The UK government has announced reforms to raise educational standards and improve student behaviour. A key change is the introduction of a new grading system, where a 'good pass' is now defined as a grade 5, comparable to a high C or low B. This system aims to better align with international standards and provide clearer expectations for students, parents, and educators.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative was published on 5 November 2025, aligning with the UK government's announcement on the same date regarding curriculum reforms to include financial literacy and AI education. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-curriculum-to-give-young-people-the-skills-for-life-and-work?utm_source=openai)) The earliest known publication date of similar content is 4 November 2025, indicating timely reporting. ([ghll.org.uk](https://www.ghll.org.uk/news/items/mortgages_and_ai_to_be_added_to_the_curriculum_in_english_schools-2025-11-04?utm_source=openai)) The report is based on a press release from the UK government, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The narrative does not appear to be republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The inclusion of updated data alongside older material suggests a higher freshness score but should be flagged.

Quotes check

Score: 9

Notes: Direct quotes from Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Professor Becky Francis are present. The earliest known usage of these quotes is in the UK government's press release dated 4 November 2025. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-curriculum-to-give-young-people-the-skills-for-life-and-work?utm_source=openai)) No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating originality. The wording of the quotes matches the press release, with no variations noted.

Source reliability

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative originates from MyJoyOnline, a reputable news outlet. The UK government's press release serves as the primary source, which is a reliable and authoritative source. The report includes references to official government announcements and reputable news outlets, enhancing its credibility.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative aligns with recent UK government initiatives to modernise the national curriculum, including the integration of financial literacy and AI education. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-curriculum-to-give-young-people-the-skills-for-life-and-work?utm_source=openai)) The claims are corroborated by multiple reputable sources, including the UK government's official announcements and coverage by established news outlets. ([news.sky.com](https://news.sky.com/story/biggest-schools-shake-up-in-a-decade-to-cut-gcse-exam-time-and-add-ai-and-fake-news-lessons-13463831?utm_source=openai)) The language and tone are consistent with official government communications and reputable news reporting. No excessive or off-topic details are present, and the structure is focused on the main subject.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is timely, original, and supported by reliable sources, with no significant credibility risks identified.

Education reform
Curriculum development
Digital literacy