Lucy Powell to give speaking skills equal curriculum status to literacy
Education Secretary Lucy Powell is due to announce that speaking and communication skills will have equal status with reading and writing in a revised national curriculum. The change matters because speaking confidently is to be taught across subjects and assessed in GCSEs, while some practical subjects may use less academic writing and more practical assessment.
Powell argues that communication is essential for work and life, particularly as artificial intelligence becomes more widespread, and says schools should ensure every child can develop those skills. The plans follow a curriculum review led by Professor Becky Francis, which recommended leaving much existing content in place; government sources say Powell does not intend to discard it. Shadow education secretary Laura Trott warned the proposals could create confusion and reopen debate over a knowledge-rich curriculum, while the details and effects on GCSE subject choices remain unclear.
- Speaking skills may be assessed in GCSEs.
- Practical subjects could involve less academic writing.
- Critics warn the curriculum changes may cause confusion.
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England’s national curriculum sets out what pupils are taught in state schools. Reading and writing are central parts of it, while speaking and listening are taught in different ways across lessons; GCSEs are the qualifications many pupils take at about 16.
Lucy Powell is the education secretary, responsible for education policy in the government. Professor Becky Francis led a review of the curriculum, and Laura Trott is the opposition Conservative education spokesperson. The debate is about how schools should balance communication skills with subject knowledge, and how any changes might affect lessons and exams.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Giving speaking and communication equal status with reading and writing could help every pupil practise skills that matter in work, public life and everyday relationships. Teaching them across subjects and assessing them in exams may make spoken communication a valued part of learning, while practical assessment could better reflect what some subjects require.
The case against
The curriculum should preserve a clear, knowledge-rich core, and changing the status and assessment of communication could make expectations less coherent if the details are not carefully defined. More practical assessment or less academic writing in some subjects might also alter what qualifications measure and create uncertainty for pupils, teachers and subject choices.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Lucy Powell accused of ‘blowing open’ curriculum as speaking skills to get equal status with reading and writing”.