The long-awaited Curriculum and Assessment Review has landed - and it’s good news for schools who believe in the power of reading.

After years of an exam-heavy focus, the new recommendations mark a major cultural shift: reading for pleasure, oracy, creativity, critical literacy, and inclusion are now central to how we prepare children for life, not just tests.

At LoveReading4Schools, this is music to our ears - because these priorities have always been at the heart of what we do. Every day we are shouting about the importance of reading for pleasure and helping schools across the nation embed a reading for pleasure culture in their settings.

What is the Curriculum and Assessment Review?

The Curriculum and Assessment Review is an independent, government-commissioned review of England’s national curriculum and assessment system. And the first major review since the big educational reforms of 2014.

It was launched by the Department for Education (DfE) in 2023 and was chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE (Chief Executive of the Education Endowment Foundation). The final report was published today, 5th November 2025, alongside the government’s official response.

Its core aim was to ensure that the national curriculum and assessment system prepare children and young people for life and work in the 2030s. The world has come a long way since 2014.

The year-long review headed was asked by the government to look at primary, secondary and aged 16-19 phases of state education in England. It heard more than 7,000 responses from the public, with evidence considered by an expert panel appointed by Francis, leading to the publication of its 197-page report.

What were the Review's Key Recommendations?

A review of England’s curriculum has recommended reducing the amount of content and emphasis on exams and instead focusing more on life skills and enrichment. “Some of those other really precious and important things that schools do around enrichment, life skills, support for young people’s confidence – those things are being squeezed by the sheer volume of content in the national curriculum at present,” Francis said.

1. GCSEs - shortening and less content

The length of GCSE exams should be shrunk by 10%. The review found evidence of “excessive” length and the sheer number of exams taken by 16-year-olds, and argues that exams could be shortened without any loss of rigour. Individual GCSE subject content should be slimmed down, particularly in history and sciences, to give pupils more time for non-assessed but mandatory subjects such as PE, citizenship and relationships, sex and health education.

2. English Baccalaureate

It has been recommended that the English Baccalaureate suite of GCSE subjects introduced by Gove, which was designed to steer pupils towards eight core academic subjects but excluded arts or vocational subjects, should be scrapped. The measure has long been opposed by arts and creative educators.

3. Social Diversity

Stronger representation should be made of “the diversity that makes up our modern society, allowing more children to see themselves in the curriculum”.

4. Expansion of RE

Religious Education should be made part of the national curriculum at all stages, taking its content out of the hands of local advisory councils. The review heard evidence that RE provision in many schools “is not good enough and does not prepare pupils adequately for life beyond school”.

5. New Diagnostic Test in Maths and English

It was proposed that a new diagnostic test in maths and English to support teachers in identifying gaps in pupils’ knowledge at year 8 be introduced, ensuring more students are supported to progress successfully. 

6. Statutory Citizenship Classes

The government should introduce a statutory measure to ensure that all children are taught citizenship classes at primary school, which should include elements of financial and media literacy, and climate change and sustainability.

7. Primary Grammar 

Grammar teaching and testing in primary school should be reviewed to determine what content should be removed entirely to enable a greater focus on grammar and writing rather than grammar in theory.

8. Replace Computing Science GCSE

It was proposed that the current computing science GCSE be replaced with a broader GCSE in computing that prepares young people “for applying digital technology and data across a wide range of fields”, including the use of artificial intelligence.

What were the themes relevant to Reading for Pleasure?

There was lots to unpick in the review relevant to literacy, oracy and reading for pleasure, that we distil for LoveReading4Schools members below. Placing reading, writing and oracy at the heart of the new national curriculum as the foundation for learning is a game-changer. One of the review’s biggest shifts is the emphasis on disciplinary literacy - reading, writing and speaking as powerful tools across every subject. Reaffirming literacy as the foundation of all learning - not just in English lessons. There is also a call for a greater focus on financial literacy, digital/media literacy, and social-emotional learning. Schools are encouraged to develop character, citizenship, and wellbeing through reading and enrichment.

Oracy

Strengthen the focus on oracy (speaking and listening): The report recommends the publication of a new oracy framework so that “more young people become confident and effective speakers”. 

Prioritise the Foundations

Prioritise reading, writing and mathematics foundations from early years through to secondary: The curriculum must ensure strong foundations in reading and writing, not just as skills for English lessons but across learning. 

Reading for Pleasure

Embed reading for pleasure and ensure that a “love of reading” is recognised as a key outcome: The government response emphasises “a love of reading will help young people navigate an uncertain world…”. 

Disciplinary Literacy

Develop disciplinary literacy (reading and writing within each subject): Schools are encouraged to ensure literacy is not isolated in the English classroom but supported within subjects such as STEM, history, geography, etc. 

Rich Spine 

Ensure the curriculum is well-sequenced, clear and ambitious: The programmes of study should be refreshed so each subject area has a “rich spine of knowledge” and aligned disciplinary skills. 

Media Literacy and Digital Literacy

Expand media literacy and digital literacy: The review emphasises the need for students to navigate misinformation/disinformation and develop critical reading of digital sources. 

Equity and Inclusion

Support equity and inclusion in literacy and reading: The review emphasises that children from disadvantaged backgrounds, or with SEND, must have the same access to rich reading experiences and literacy support. 

Enrichment

Make available enrichment in arts, culture and reading experiences: The government response highlights access to arts, culture, nature and reading as part of a broad curriculum entitlement. 

Tracking of Literacy Progress

Give schools tools to track literacy progress and identify gaps earlier: Examples include better diagnostic assessments in English and reading, to support early interventions. 

Implementation Timeline

The new draft curriculum is to be developed through 2026–27 with a phased introduction and pilot programmes from 2027. Full implementation in schools will need to happen from September 2028.

Reading for Pleasure is Now a Curriculum Priority

The review calls for reading for pleasure to be “embedded throughout school life,” recognising its profound impact on attainment, empathy, wellbeing and long-term learning. As highlighted by the National Literacy Trust's 2025 Research.

That’s exactly what our platform was built to support.

With LoveReading4Schools, teachers and school librarians can:

Access expertly-curated booklists by age, theme, and reading level - designed to inspire every type of reader.

Build and share bespoke reading lists that match your pupils’ interests, topics, and curriculum goals.

Involve pupils in book discovery and empower them to write reviews - giving them ownership, choice and excitement about what they read.

Because remember “Children who read for pleasure make greater progress in vocabulary, spelling and maths than those who rarely read.” OECD, 2024

The review gives every school permission to put joy back into reading. Here at LoveReading4Schools we make it easy for you to do that.

Literacy Across the Curriculum

LoveReading4Schools helps teachers move beyond English and bring books into every classroom. Reading isn’t just a literacy goal anymore - it’s the glue that binds the whole curriculum together.

Have you looked at our recommended reading lists across many curriculum areas? If you'd like us to create more, let us know which ones.

Inclusion

The review makes inclusion a national priority - calling on schools to close gaps and ensure all learners see themselves represented.

LoveReading4Schools champions inclusive, diverse, and accessible reading. Books where all children can see themselves reflected. Children living in poverty, children in care, young carers.

Our Diversity and Inclusion collection features books from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.

We highlight high-interest, low-reading-age and SEND-friendly titles to make reading accessible for every learner.

Teachers can use our tagging and filtering tools within the search on LoveReading4Kids to plan book provision that reflects every child’s world. 

When pupils see themselves and others in stories, they feel they belong - and that’s the foundation for literacy success.

Information Rich World

The review urges schools to equip children with the skills to navigate today’s information-rich world — to read critically, think deeply and question what they see.

LoveReading4Schools supports this evolution with curated non-fiction and media-literacy resources that encourage critical engagement.

Collections on current issues - from climate change to AI ethics - help students practise reading for meaning, purpose and perspective.

We work with leading children’s publishers to surface high-quality factual books that build knowledge and reasoning.

Emotional Literacy

LoveReading4Schools helps you use books to nurture emotional literacy and resilience:

Browse collections on empathy, friendship, mental health, kindness and confidence.

Use books to open up safe conversations in the classroom.

Encourage reflection and creative response - from journal writing to art inspired by stories. When reading becomes a shared, joyful experience, wellbeing follows.

In Summary: Why LoveReading4Schools Matters More Than Ever

The Curriculum Review gives schools the green light to reimagine literacy - to make reading more joyful, inclusive and life-relevant.

LoveReading4Schools is your ready-made partner in that journey.

  • Curated booklists to save teachers time and inspire readers.
  • Cross-curricular lists to embed reading across subjects.
  • Inclusive collections to ensure every child can see themselves in stories.
  • Digital tools that make managing, sharing and celebrating reading easy.

As the curriculum evolves, we’re here to help schools put reading where it belongs - at the heart of learning and life.

Join thousands of schools already using LoveReading4Schools.

Start building your free reading lists today and discover how our platform can help you deliver the new national vision for literacy. Email us if you'd like help.