'Vandalism!' Children to be given climate change lessons in Labour's 'diverse' new curriculum

In subjects such as history and English literature, Labour will "diversify the curriculum" so that students can "see themselves and their communities reflected" in the topics taught.

Other major reforms to education will see the number of GCSE exams slashed and former Education Secretary Michael Gove's English Baccalaureate binned.

The Conservative Party has warned that the reforms will drag down standards in school and have accused Labour of committing “education vandalism”.

The changes come after a report published by Professor Becky Francis on Tuesday, who scrutinised England's current national curriculum.

Ministerial responses to Prof Francis' review are due to be published on Wednesday.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said she hopes the overhaul will enable children to “face the challenges of today” and “step boldly into the future”.

She said: “It has been over a decade since the national curriculum was updated, and it’s more crucial than ever that young people are equipped to face the challenges of today, so they can seize the exciting opportunities that life has to offer.

“From the fundamentals of reading to the present danger of spotting fake news, as part of our Plan for Change, these landmark reforms will help young people step boldly into the future, with the knowledge to achieve and the skills to thrive as the world around us continues to rapidly evolve.”

In response to the radical reforms, Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott said: "Labour’s idea of boosting social mobility is to teach primary school children about climate change instead of making sure they can read, write and add up properly.

"These reforms will mean fewer children studying history and languages post-14, and will hide standards slipping in schools.

"Education vandalism will be the lasting legacy of the Prime Minister and Bridget Phillipson."

Former Tory Education Minister Sir Nick Gibb slammed the reforms as being a "deeply retrograde step".

He added: "It will mean that increasingly the study of foreign languages will be centred in private schools and the children of middle-class parents who can afford tutors.

"This is yet another move by this Government to weaken academic standards in our state schools and to widen the attainment gap between the haves and the have-nots."

Teaching unions have frequently called on the Government to reduce the number of GCSE exams sat by students, claiming the current model puts pupils and staff under unnecessary pressure.

The changes will see the volume of GCSE exams cut by roughly 10 per cent.

The headteachers' union, NAHT, welcomed the announcement, saying it was “pleased" that Prof Francis's report recognised the "outdated and overloaded” nature of the current national curriculum.

The Government will be outlining accountability measures to ensure schools in England follow the updated curriculum.

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