England’s Department for Education plans to reduce curriculum material and curb early GCSE teaching for large groups, amid concerns that exam pressure is squeezing Key Stage 3.
The proposal is part of a national curriculum overhaul announced by the department. Under the proposed curriculum, schools would be told to avoid beginning GCSE specifications early for large groups, while teachers could still advance pupils who are ready.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell said pressure from GCSEs and an overcrowded curriculum can squeeze Key Stage 3 and push pupils toward exams before they have grasped the fundamentals. The department said the overhaul aims to re-engage pupils in the early secondary years.
