England’s school curriculum overhaul to teach pupils mortgages, budgeting and spotting fake news

Under the plans, lessons in how mortgages work, managing household budgets and identifying online disinformation will become core elements of school life.

Students will also be taught about the uses and risks of artificial intelligence.

Practical life skills meet academic rigour

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the goal is to “revitalise” what children learn in school, ensuring they leave education ready for both work and life.

“These reforms strengthen, not replace, core subjects,” she said.

“We’re making the curriculum more efficient by cutting duplication and focusing on what really matters, literacy, numeracy and the skills young people need for modern life.”

The changes will also see GCSE exam times cut by up to three hours, with the Department for Education arguing that shorter tests will ease pressure on pupils without reducing standards.

Financial and citizenship education expanded

Financial education will be woven into maths lessons, while citizenship classes, made compulsory for primary pupils, will include modules on AI awareness and misinformation.

Students will be encouraged to discuss and debate issues more confidently, with spoken communication given equal status to reading and writing.

The reforms also place greater emphasis on environmental awareness, cultural diversity and interpersonal skills, reflecting the government’s pledge to bridge the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.

End of the English Baccalaureate

In a major policy shift, the Government plans to abolish the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), which has until now prioritised a fixed set of academic subjects.

Officials say the change will free pupils to pursue a wider mix of GCSEs, particularly in creative and technical disciplines.

Every student will still have the option to study three separate science GCSEs, preserving academic breadth.

However, former schools minister Nick Gibb and several opposition MPs have warned the move could reduce take-up of foreign languages and weaken academic rigour.

Critics argue the EBacc encouraged high standards by steering students toward traditional subjects.

Supporters counter that the new approach better reflects modern needs, balancing academic excellence with practical skills such as financial literacy and digital awareness.

Industry backing and classroom partnerships

Teaching unions and school leaders have broadly welcomed the reforms, describing them as “sensible” and “long overdue”, but warned that success will depend on adequate funding and staffing.

Mark Harris, chief executive of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, said financial education could have lasting benefits: “Financial literacy is a life skill that can make the difference between staying on top of your money or falling into debt.”

He suggested that mortgage professionals could work with schools to provide real-world insight into borrowing responsibly, maintaining good credit and avoiding financial strain.

A shift toward ‘life-ready’ learning

The proposals mark a clear departure from the exam-heavy, subject-narrow focus of recent years.

Ministers say they want to create a system that values critical thinking, communication and practical decision-making as highly as academic grades.

If approved, the new curriculum will represent the most significant education reform in more than a decade, one designed, the government says, to prepare pupils not just for exams, but for everyday life.