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<p>No specific guidance has been issued on this matter. The National Curriculum requirements
for the length of all key stages is set out in the Education Act 2002, and the current
National Curriculum framework and programmes of study were published in September
2013. Although academies are not required to teach the National Curriculum, they are
expected to offer all pupils a curriculum that is similar in breadth and ambition,
including the requirements to teach English, mathematics, science and religious education.</p><p>
</p><p>The Department has concerns about the narrowing of the curriculum in some schools
that teach Key Stage 3 for only two years. This was expressed to the Education Select
Committee in May 2018, and the more recent Ofsted research on this matter has confirmed
that this is an issue in some schools.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, as part of the Department’s
announcement of a new model music curriculum on 11 January 2019, my right hon. Friend
the Secretary of State has stated that he wants children to be taught a broad and
balanced curriculum up to age 14, taking them to the point where they will consider
which subjects to focus on at GCSE. The Department will be working to develop high
quality complete curriculum programmes across other subjects, including history and
geography, to support teachers to provide a broad and ambitious curriculum across
primary and secondary schools, so that young people can fully enjoy these subjects
up to age 14.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is working closely with Ofsted as it develops
its new inspection framework to make sure no pupils see their education restricted.
Ofsted will launch a public consultation on its inspection proposals on Wednesday
16 January.</p><p> </p>
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