Politics · United Kingdom · 3 hrs ago
Lucy Powell proposes changes to England’s school curriculum
Education Secretary Lucy Powell has proposed changes to England’s school curriculum that would give speaking skills the same standing as reading and writing.
Her plans also include more practical assessment and sending fewer pupils home for bad behaviour.
The proposals form part of a wider curriculum overhaul, though the details and timetable are not stated.
The changes would broaden how schools teach and assess pupils, while retaining reading and writing as core skills.
The proposals have drawn criticism that they could weaken traditional academic learning, although that view is an opinion rather than an established outcome.
The central question is whether new priorities will come at the cost of core knowledge.
The sources do not say when the proposals will be decided or introduced.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell has proposed changes to England’s school curriculum.
The proposals include giving speaking skills equal standing with reading and writing.
She also proposed more practical assessment and sending fewer children home for bad behaviour.
Powell said she wanted greater inclusion and a wider view of what counts as good.
The Daily Mail’s opinion article criticised the proposals, arguing they could weaken traditional learning.
- Who
- Education Secretary Lucy Powell proposed the changes.
- What
- She proposed curriculum changes including greater emphasis on speaking, more practical assessment and fewer exclusions for bad behaviour.
- When
- The proposals were discussed on 15 October 2026, according to the article.
- Where
- England.
- Why
- Powell said she wanted to promote inclusion and widen the view of what counts as good; the article gives no further explanation of her reasons.
Lucy Powell
Daily Mail
Curriculum changes
Lucy Powell
Powell proposed putting speaking skills on a par with reading and writing, alongside more practical assessment.
Daily Mail
The article argues the proposals risk weakening traditional learning and academic knowledge.
Behaviour and inclusion
Lucy Powell
Powell advocated inclusion rather than exclusion and proposed sending fewer children home for bad behaviour.
Daily Mail
The article criticises this approach as part of a plan that could lower educational standards.
Powell discussed proposals to change the curriculum, including greater emphasis on speaking skills.
The Daily Mail published an opinion article criticising the proposals.
- Proposed curriculum change
- Speaking skills to be put on a par with reading and writing
- Assessment
- More practical assessment proposed
- Behaviour
- Fewer children sent home for bad behaviour
- Education Secretary
- Lucy Powell
- Country
- England
2 sources
DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Lucy Powell's disgraceful plan to dumb down schools will deprive Britain's young of the education she was lucky enough to enjoy
What people are saying
inclusion not exclusion
widen the narrow view of what good is
Department for Hope