School measures - Academy schools: National curriculum

This measure introduces a requirement for academies to teach the National Curriculum in the same way as other state-funded schools. It will be commenced following the Curriculum and Assessment Review and the introduction of a revised National Curriculum.

Maintained schools are legally required to follow the National Curriculum, which sets out the subjects and programmes of study (what pupils must be taught at each key stage of the National Curriculum) which schools are required to cover. Currently, academies do not have to teach the National Curriculum, although they are required to meet the curriculum requirements of section 78 of the Education Act 2002 – offering a “balanced and broadly based curriculum”.

Following the Curriculum and Assessment Review recommendations and the implementation of reforms, this measure will require academies to teach the revised National Curriculum, in the same way as other state-funded schools. This will create a common entitlement for all children in state funded schools, giving assurance to parents of the minimum curriculum their child will be taught, regardless of the school they attend.

It is anticipated that the Review will publish an interim report in early 2025 and aims to publish the final report with recommendations in Autumn 2025, though it will take several years after that for its recommendations to be implemented.

The above analysis relates to Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill which has not yet become law and may be subject to change as it passes through Parliament. We will be posting updates to this page if there are any key developments but the above may not reflect the latest changes to the legislation.  Please contact our School Support (schoolsupport@wslaw.co.uk)  or Schools HR (schoolshr@wslaw.co.uk) teams if you require an update on the latest status of the Bill.