Leadership Skills Foundation welcomes curriculum review final report 

The Leadership Skills Foundation responds to the final report and the recommendations of the Curriculum and Assessment Review led by Professor Becky Francis.

Richard Norman, Chief Executive:

“The recommendations of the Curriculum and Assessment review demonstrates a genuine commitment for every young person to have the knowledge and skills they will need to thrive in the future.  

 “For too long, schools and colleges in England have been constrained by an increasingly outdated curriculum the hasn’t kept pace with changes to the world of work and life in general.

“For the 1,600+ schools and colleges we work with annually to deliver essential leadership skills programmes, they consistently demonstrate that by providing these opportunities, young people become more skilled. They gain confidence and believe in their ability to make a positive difference to their own future and to their communities; attendance and behaviour improves.

“Over the coming weeks, months, and years, we will continue to work with the Department for Education and our partners to ensure schools, colleges, and teachers have the right resources, training and support to deliver on the review’s ambition for every young person.”

Lucy Supperstone, Director of Innovation and Standards:

“It’s encouraging to see a strong focus on ensuring our education system nurtures not only knowledge but also the essential skills and experiences young people need to thrive. 

“Key recommendations from the review that will support the development of life skills for young people include: 

• The introduction of a new Enrichment Entitlement – covering civic engagement; arts and culture; nature, outdoor and adventure; sport and physical activities; and wider life skills. 
• Recognition that schools must have the space to innovate – providing locally tailored content and enrichment opportunities that help every young person flourish in education and beyond. 
• Redevelopment of curriculum areas, ensuring they remain relevant and ambitious. 
• Climate and environment education to be embedded within the geography curriculum. 
• A stronger citizenship focus in primary education, helping children understand their role in society from an early age. 

“Through our work, we will support the implementation of these core objectives and outcomes with our partners to make the transition to the new curriculum as impactful as possible for our future generations and the talented education workforce.”

Overall, we welcome this review as the start of a real evolvement towards greater parity of esteem between knowledge and skills – where essential skill development stands proudly alongside a knowledge-rich curriculum that supports skill development. 

Read the full review and report here.

Read the Government’s response here.