It’s time.... to value the whole curriculum

By Mark House

Education is more than exams and league tables. For too long, the system has privileged what’s easy to quantify—core subjects, test results, and narrow definitions of success—while arts, enrichment, creative subjects, oracy, and broader life skills have been pushed aside.

It’s time... to value the whole curriculum

The curriculum reforms now sweeping England are changing this story. Equal status for arts GCSEs, mandatory enrichment provision, the potential removal of the EBacc performance measure, and triple science entitlement represent a fundamental shift: all subjects matter, all pathways matter, all learners matter. Schools can no longer narrow their offer to optimise league table positions at the expense of what shapes the whole child - creativity, curiosity, collaboration, resilience, civic engagement, and wellbeing.​

The new curriculum is built for breadth as well as depth. From drama and dance to coding and community service, students are finally recognised for the diverse skills and passions they develop through a rich curriculum and vibrant extracurricular life. Enrichment benchmarks now ensure every pupil is offered opportunities in sport, nature, civic activity, culture, and practical skills - not just rote learning.​

RM Compare is purpose-built for this era. Our platform enables fair, reliable assessment and moderation across the whole curriculum: creative portfolios, performances, enrichment activities, practical projects, group work, and more. Schools and MATs can now give every subject and every learner the recognition they deserve, providing evidence for Ofsted, governors, and families alike that every child’s opportunities truly count.​

It’s time to value the whole curriculum: not just what’s easy to test, but everything that prepares young people for life, work, and citizenship in the modern world. RM Compare helps schools capture, celebrate, and empower this breadth - making sure no learner, no talent, no challenge is left behind.

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