Financial Literacy, AI Awareness, and Climate Education Now Core Subjects
In the first major reform in more than a decade, England’s national school curriculum is being updated to include essential real-life skills such as managing mortgages, understanding financial literacy, and identifying AI-generated fake news. The sweeping changes aim to prepare students for modern challenges in an increasingly digital and economically complex world.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced the reforms, describing them as part of a “cutting-edge curriculum” designed to equip young people with practical knowledge for everyday life. The changes are based on recommendations from an independent review led by Professor Becky Francis.
Professor Francis emphasized that financial literacy emerged as the most critical area identified by both parents and students. “Every focus group with young people raised financial skills as a priority,” she said, adding that the pressures of high inflation and the growing digital economy make such education essential.
Major Curriculum Changes Announced
Starting in 2028, both primary and secondary school pupils will be taught budgeting, mortgages, and online financial transactions as part of maths and citizenship classes. Students will also learn to recognize AI-generated content to help them spot misinformation and fake news.
The reforms also include a significant policy shift — the discontinuation of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc). The government believes the EBacc has become “too constraining,” preventing students from pursuing creative and arts subjects alongside academic courses. By removing it, officials hope to give students more flexibility and encourage broader skill development.
Additionally, the average GCSE exam duration will be reduced by up to three hours per student, easing assessment pressure and allowing more time for interactive learning.
Education Sector Welcomes Reforms but Seeks Proper Funding
The head teachers’ union praised the reforms, calling them “sensible” and “evidence-based.” However, they stressed the importance of adequate funding and resources to ensure successful implementation. Union leaders urged the government to provide proper training and support for teachers so that the new curriculum can be effectively delivered in classrooms nationwide.
With these changes, England aims to produce a new generation of students equipped with both academic and practical skills — ready to navigate the realities of finance, technology, and global challenges.
