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Curriculum, assessment and qualifications

NAHT is working to ensure that the curriculum supports the learning, progress and success of all pupils. NAHT supports the principle that a broad and balanced curriculum promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and prepares pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

NAHT is campaigning to:

Support schools to provide a broad and balanced curriculum for their pupils

Challenge the government policy, including EBacc, which may narrow the curriculum
Enable and support schools to successfully deliver statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education
Lobby for improvements to government policy which supports schools to deliver inclusive education and fulfil their responsibilities under the public sector equality duty
Support schools to deliver effective careers education for all pupils
Support schools to deliver high-quality Religious Education to all pupils
Provide guidance, materials and information to support schools in educating pupils about environmental issues.

Ensure a valid and proportionate approach to statutory assessment in primary schools

Lobby the government to reconsider the introduction of the multiplication tables check
Lobby the government to ensure changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage and Early Learning Goals are appropriate and relevant for the early years sector
Influence the development and implementation of the reception baseline assessment
Support members to implement the new statutory assessment for pupils with SEND
Identify and challenge the STA over any impact on members of the contract change to deliver statutory assessment in the primary phase
Engage with the STA to influence changes and improvements to statutory assessment including moderation and maladministration
Campaign for KS2 SPAG to be made non-statutory and oppose any additional statutory testing in the primary phase

Ensure the KS4 and KS5 qualification framework and examination system is fit for purpose

Press the government, Ofqual and exam boards to ensure that reformed qualifications, both academic and vocational, meet the needs of all pupils and schools
Explore the issue of grade reliability, identifying solutions and improvements which are supported by members and pressing the government and Ofqual for appropriate action
Inform members of the latest developments in secondary assessment through engagement with Ofqual, JCQ and awarding organisations.

The DfE publishes updated statutory guidance on careers education

On 8 May 2025, the Department for Education (DfE) published updated statutory guidance for schools, colleges and independent training providers on careers education, structured around the refreshed Gatsby Benchmarks.

The guidance confirms that institutions will be expected to shape their careers programmes using the updated benchmarks from this September and it encourages everyone to start planning now to ensure a smooth transition.

The Gatsby Foundation has also launched its Gatsby Benchmarks Champions hub to showcase how institutions are already implementing the updates. There is also support available from the Careers & Enterprise Company, including new tailored toolkits and free, interactive e-learning courses.

The DfE’s updated statutory guidance on careers guidance and access for education and training providers also strengthens Gatsby Benchmark 6 on experiences of workplaces.

This statutory guidance – to which schools ‘must have regard’ and should follow unless there is good reason not to – now proposes that, from September 2025, schools in England should adopt this strengthened benchmark to arrange a week of work experience activities for pupils in years seven to nine and at least one placement in years ten to 11.

The DfE guidance says that activities in years seven to nine should consist of ‘multiple, varied and meaningful employer-led activities’ – for example, visits involving employer-set tasks, work-shadowing or talks in workplaces. Placements in years ten to 11 should allow pupils to ‘experience a real working environment’. Pupils will be able to take their days with more than one employer and spread their placement time across a number of days or weeks at any point in the two years.

The DfE has not as yet set out any further detail on implementation timelines, any support to be made available nationally, nor delivery plans.

First published 14 May 2025