England curriculum should focus less on exams and more on life skills, finds review

The proposed changes would cut about three hours from the length of GCSE exams sat by pupils. Photograph: Jim Wileman/The Guardian

A review of England’s curriculum has recommended reducing the amount of content and emphasis on exams and instead focusing more on life skills and “enrichment”.

The review, led by Prof Becky Francis, wants pupils to spend less time in exam halls and have more time “for all of those amazing other things that schools do”, such as plays, sport and work experience.