Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure students have access to a broad curriculum that supports diverse career pathways, especially in schools undergoing staffing reductions.

The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, covering ages 5 to 18, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE.

The review will seek to deliver an excellent foundation in core subjects of reading, writing and maths, alongside a broader curriculum, so that children and young people do not miss out on subjects such as music, art, sport and drama, as well as vocational subjects.

It will also seek to deliver a curriculum that ensures children and young people leave compulsory education ready for life and ready for work, building the knowledge, skills and attributes young people need to thrive.

The review is taking place in the context of an education system facing considerable challenges and staff shortages. It will recognise and seek to account for these issues when considering how a broad curriculum can be delivered. The Terms of Reference for the review can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66d196b7d107658faec7e3db/Curriculum_and_assessment_review_-_aims_terms_of_reference_and_working_principles.pdf.

The department has announced its intention to recruit 6,500 new expert teachers and to encourage more teachers into shortage subjects, support areas that face recruitment challenges, and tackle retention issues.