Building better biology curricula for all: RSB’s response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review in England

The RSB is pleased to see many of the policy positions we have put forward underpinning the recommendations by the Curriculum and Assessment Review panel and being adopted by the Government. Our positions have been set out in Evolving 5-19 Biology: recommendations and framework for 5-19 biology curricula, Developing a Primary Science Curriculum, and our response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review consultation in 2024.

Lauren MᶜLeod, Head of Education Policy, said: “We look forward to working with the Department for Education on the implementation phase of these recommendations. We are pleased to see an emphasis on primary science, practical activities, climate change and sustainability education, and a commitment to review the whole programme of study and GCSE content to address issues in the existing curricula and specifications. We support the ambition to refresh the national curriculum so that it is aspirational, engaging, and demanding, and works for all children and young people."

Recommendations from the review panel, and adopted by the Government, include: reviewing programme of study for science and GCSE content for Combined Science and Biology, with clearer articulation of the fundamentals of the subject; purpose and expectation of high-quality practical work; climate change and sustainability education; increased focus on diversity and representation in the curriculum; and more cohesive primary science. There is an ambitious timeline with first teaching in 2028 and new GCSEs in 2029, and many of the recommendations adopted will require additional funding and support for schools to be truly effective. 

The Government has also committed to an entitlement to triple science for all students (individual Biology, Chemistry, and Physics GCSEs), and will support schools to develop a triple science offer. This will involve working with schools to understand the barriers to entry and provision for triple science, including workforce challenges. The RSB has concerns about the implementation of such an entitlement and whether it will be an effective lever to achieve the goals set out by the panel in reducing inequity and supporting progression, without a concerted effort to address systemic issues with the existing GCSEs, their perception, how they are timetabled, and with a shortage of specialist teachers in the sciences.

The RSB will be further interrogating the curriculum and assessment report and government response, and considering the opportunities and challenges for biology around knowledge-rich focus, primary science, key stage 3, GCSEs, A levels, T levels, and V levels. 

The RSB will continue to develop and update its curriculum policy and messaging, and is working across all four UK nations to inform curriculum and qualification reform. More details can be found on our website. We welcome input from teachers, schools, and higher education institutions via our committees, membership, and Teaching Policy Network. If you would like to find out more please email education.policy@rsb.org.uk