Overview
- The government will work with Ofqual and exam boards to cut average GCSE exam time by about 2.5 to 3 hours, reflecting the review’s call to reduce key stage 4 exam volume by roughly 10%.
- All secondaries will be expected to offer triple science GCSEs as standard, broadening access to separate physics, chemistry and biology.
- The current computer science GCSE will be replaced by a broader computing qualification, and ministers are exploring a new 16–18 data science and AI qualification.
- A statutory Year 8 reading test and a strengthened Year 6 writing assessment will aim to spot learning gaps earlier.
- Schools will be measured against new enrichment benchmarks that Ofsted will assess, with the final, machine‑readable curriculum due by spring 2027 and some GCSE changes phased from autumn 2029.