Mortgages, Savings, and Identifying Fake News: Major Changes to England’s Curriculum
Children in England will soon be taught how to handle personal finances, including savings and mortgages, as part of a sweeping reform of the national curriculum. The new framework aims to equip students with practical life skills and digital literacy.
Focus on Digital Literacy and Safety
The updated curriculum will also include lessons on artificial intelligence, misinformation, fake news, and online safety to help children navigate an increasingly digital world.
Government Vision and Rationale
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson explained that the government seeks to “revitalise” the curriculum, aligning it with new educational goals and developments such as the introduction of the proposed V Levels.
Key Curriculum Revisions Effective from 2028
- Students will gain essential knowledge in financial literacy, including understanding mortgages and savings.
- Lessons on AI, online safety, and critical evaluation of information will be added.
- The time spent on GCSE exams will be reduced by an average of three hours per student.
- The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) will be discontinued.
- All students will have the opportunity to study three science GCSEs.
Expert Insights on Exam Reform
“We are an international outlier in the number and volume of exams we have aged 16, only Singapore is anywhere near us,” said Professor Becky Francis, who leads the curriculum review. “So we do want to try and bring that down.”
These reforms form part of a long-term effort to make education in England more relevant, balanced, and connected to real-world expectations.
Author’s Summary
The UK government plans to modernise education by teaching financial literacy, AI awareness, and reducing exam loads to create a more practical and future-focused curriculum by 2028.