This week I report on the publication of the interim report of the Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review, the DfE’s plans to boost creative education, the launch of a consultation on making digital standards a requirement for all schools and the announcement of £80 million funding for solar panels for schools.

Publication of the interim Curriculum and Assessment Review report
On Tuesday the interim report of the Curriculum and Assessment Review was published setting out initial findings and the next stage of its work which will focus on four key areas:

• Ensuring high standards for all – exploring how curriculum and assessment can be more inclusive and equitable, to ensure excellence for all.
• Addressing subject-specific challenges, and ensuring curriculum is consistently achieving depth and breadth – including an in-depth analysis of individual subjects to ensure appropriate depth and mastery of knowledge, and that subjects are cutting edge.
• Responding to social and technological change – examining how education can better prepare students to grasp the opportunities of the future, for example heightened digital skills and media literacy to address trends in digital information and the rise of AI, and scientific and cultural knowledge to meet the challenges of climate change.
• Ensuring pathways beyond GCSE work for all – examining the current pathways to ensure they work for all young people in supporting successful routes to further study or employment, especially those from less privileged backgrounds.

Despite calls for reform, SATs and other primary school assessments will remain as the Education Secretary has said these are non-negotiable in pushing standards up for every child and closing the attainment gap.

Plans to boost creative education
Alongside publication of the interim report on the Curriculum and Assessment Review the DfE also unveiled plans to enhance access to high-quality arts education and enrichment activities for young people in the UK. Key initiatives include the establishment of a National Centre for Arts and Music Education, an Enrichment Framework for extracurricular opportunities, and a Digital, AI and Technology Task Group to equip students for future job markets.

Consultation launched on making digital standards a requirement for all schools
An eight week consultation was launched today which will gather views on a long-term government ambition for all schools and colleges to meet six core digital standards by 2030, which cover the foundations of good tech – ensuring essential technology infrastructure and connectivity, digital security and leadership.

The core standards make up part of the eleven digital and technology standards, published by the DfE from 2022, to support schools and colleges to use the right digital infrastructure and technology.

DfE announces £80 million solar panel funding for schools
Today it was announced that around 200 schools are set to be given a share of £80 million funding from Great British Energy to install rooftop solar panels. Installation will begin this summer, with a typical school estimated to save on average around £25k on their annual energy bill.

Schools selected for the scheme will primarily be in areas of deprivation in the North East, West Midlands and North West, as well as at least 10 schools in each region.