The UK government announced major reforms to GCSE assessments and curriculum, including reducing exam duration by up to three hours and introducing new subject initiatives, in a bid to ease student pressure and modernise education standards by 2028.
The UK government has announced plans to reduce the average GCSE exam time by up to three hours, a move aimed at alleviating the excessive assessment load currently placed on students. This follows a curriculum and assessment review, initially launched by the Labour government, which found that the volume of exams taken by 16-year-olds in England is internationally exceptional, with only Singapore coming close to comparable exam volumes. The review recommended a 10 percent reduction in exam volume at Key Stage 4 to ease student pressure while maintaining rigorous standards.
Alongside the reduction in exam duration, the Department for Education (DfE) confirmed it would scrap the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) performance measure, introduced in 2010 by former education secretary Michael Gove. The review criticised the EBacc for constraining students’ subject choices and limiting access to arts and vocational courses, which has affected student engagement and achievement. The DfE’s acceptance of this recommendation signals a shift towards a more balanced curriculum that accommodates broader interests and skills.
Additional proposals from the review include the introduction of new maths and English tests for Year 8 pupils to identify learning gaps earlier in secondary education and make resits more tailored. Citizenship education will become compulsory in primary schools, ensuring that pupils gain essential knowledge about democracy, government, financial literacy, media literacy, and climate education. Furthermore, a comprehensive overhaul of the Key Stage 2 grammar, punctuation, and spelling assessment is planned; the test will focus more on the practical application of grammar in writing rather than the memorisation of technical terms.
The DfE also confirmed plans to introduce a statutory entitlement for all GCSE pupils to study triple science, replacing the current performance measure with a commitment to broader and deeper scientific education. Attention is also being given to modernising qualifications in emerging subjects, with the department exploring new qualifications in data science and artificial intelligence for 16-to-18-year-olds, alongside reforms to the computer science GCSE and the introduction of a new language qualification to complement existing options.
The government’s curriculum overhaul is scheduled to be published by spring 2027, with implementation set for first teaching from September 2028. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasised the necessity of updating the curriculum to prepare young people for contemporary challenges and opportunities, underscoring the decade-long gap since the last major revision.
The review also addressed concerns about the intensity of the current system, highlighting that pupils in England typically take between 24 and 31 hours of exams in Year 11, which is notably higher than other high-performing countries like Ireland. This intense and elongated examination period has been associated with increased stress and negative impacts on student wellbeing, prompting calls for reform from education leaders and exam boards alike.
Leading exam boards such as AQA and OCR have echoed the need for reform. AQA advocates for slimming down subject content and reducing the number of exam papers to allow more time for developing broader skills such as literacy, numeracy, and digital fluency. OCR has called for an urgent overhaul of GCSE English, proposing shorter and fewer exams, increased use of non-exam assessments, and more modular options to reduce pressure on students and improve reliability.
There is a consensus emerging from various stakeholders that while reducing exam load is crucial, it must not come at the expense of maintaining educational standards and the validity of qualifications. The DfE has committed to working closely with Ofqual and exam boards to ensure that the reduction in exam volume does not undermine the rigour and reliability of GCSEs.
Overall, these reforms reflect a significant shift in government educational policy—prioritising student wellbeing, broader skill development, and flexibility in the curriculum while retaining high standards. The anticipated changes mark an important evolution in how young learners are assessed and prepared for future challenges.
📌 Reference Map:
- [1] (The Independent) – Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12
- [2] (The Independent) – Paragraphs 1, 2, 3
- [3] (Express & Star) – Paragraphs 1, 4, 6
- [4] (Evening Standard) – Paragraph 4
- [5] (TES) – Paragraph 6
- [6] (TES) – Paragraph 7
- [7] (GB News) – Paragraph 4
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is recent, published on 4 November 2025. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is 4 November 2025. The report is based on a press release from the Department for Education, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. No earlier versions show different information. The narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The report includes direct quotes from Professor Becky Francis and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. The earliest known usage of these quotes is 4 November 2025. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating potentially original or exclusive content. No variations in quote wording were found.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Independent, a reputable UK news outlet. The Department for Education, a government department, is a reliable source. No unverifiable entities are mentioned.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative makes a significant claim about reducing GCSE exam times, which is covered elsewhere, including the Department for Education’s press release. The report lacks specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates, which reduces the score and flags it as potentially synthetic. The language and tone are consistent with UK English and the topic. The structure is focused and relevant, with no excessive or off-topic detail. The tone is formal and appropriate for a government announcement.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is recent, with no significant issues found in freshness, quotes, source reliability, or plausibility. The report is based on a press release from the Department for Education, which typically warrants a high freshness score. The quotes are original and not found in earlier material. The source is reputable, and the claims are plausible and consistent with other reports.
