At this year’s Labour Party Conference, the Education Policy Institute has partnered with Cambridge University Press & Assessment to hold a public panel event: ‘The Classroom of Tomorrow – Readying 11-16 curriculum and assessment for 2025 – 2035 and beyond.’
The current volume and intensity of exams at GCSE is too high, and an overloaded curriculum is narrowing students’ education, according to a major report by exam board OCR. Former Education Secretary Charles Clarke, who chaired the report, said “there is no ‘silver bullet’ to solve the challenges facing education, but there is an urgent need to reform”.
The report, Striking the Balance: A review of 11-16 curriculum and assessment in England, set out in detail how those reforms might take shape, concentrating on the current intensity of exams aged 16 and how a more balanced curriculum and assessment regime across 11–16 education might be achieved, as well as the challenges facing English and Maths, and digital assessment and learning. It builds on expertise from OCR, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, and thousands of students, teachers and educationalists.
It comes as the Labour government has undertaken a curriculum and assessment review, led by Professor Becky Francis, that has been widely welcomed by the sector. This is an important moment for the education system in England, and an opportunity to build on what is working and identify what is not. OCR’s Striking the Balance aims to feed into this review with bold, evidence-based recommendations.
This panel brings together politicians, school leaders and sector experts to provide their own insights, following Striking the Balance. In light of the significant challenges currently facing the education system including a teacher recruitment and retention crisis, rising numbers of pupils with SEND and increasingly stretched budgets, panellists will also discuss where to start with implementing reform and at what pace might be most useful to reduce burdens on schools and ensure any changes can be effectively embedded.
We are delighted to be joined by Jill Duffy, OCR; Catherine McKinnell MP, Minister of State for School Standards; Matthew Shanks, Education South West and Charles Clarke, Former Secretary of State for Education. Natalie Perera, EPI’s Chief Executive, will chair this panel.
** Note: This event will take place in the conference secure zone. To access the secure zone you will need to obtain a pass directly from the Labour Party.**
