The British Academy responds to the final report of the curriculum and assessment review

The British Academy shares the government’s ambition to ensure that the school curriculum and assessment system in England remains rigorous, valued, and aligned with the demands of a rapidly-changing economy and society. The final report of the Curriculum and Assessment review, released today, raises important questions about how we maintain a balanced and effective education system that works for all. We look forward to engaging with its detail, and building on the evidence the Academy supplied to the review, in combination with the Post-16 Education and Skills White paper released last month.

On the implications for language education, Professor Charles Forsdick, Lead Fellow for Languages at The British Academy said:

“We are concerned about the implications for language education and the need for breadth in the curriculum for all learners. The recommendation to abandon the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) at GCSE would eliminate one of the few remaining safeguards for language provision in England’s schools and risk narrowing education for the next generation.

“Evidence shows that the EBacc has been an important incentive for schools to continue offering languages, even amid teaching shortages and challenges in the transition between Key Stage 2 and 3.

"The British Academy's research shows how strategically vital languages are for the UK’s future and that they form an essential component of literacy, social mobility and global engagement. Without the EBacc, schools would have fewer incentives to maintain these subjects, effectively reducing young people’s choices rather than expanding them.

“While we welcome the review’s recognition of the need to improve access to creative subjects, pitting subjects against one another will not equip learners with the full range of knowledge, skills and experiences they deserve and need to thrive in later life. These are issues that go to the heart of what a balanced, forward-looking education should provide.”

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