Develop and design a broad and inclusive curriculum with confidence. Reveal the best of what you already have and be assured that what you do is right for your pupils.
The government plans to implement a reformed National Curriculum in September 2028, but you shouldn't let that stop you from reviewing your current curriculum if you think it needs improvement. Read our step-by-step guide to get a broad overview of how to review your curriculum from start to finish. Use our audits to spot areas for development in your curriculum and take stock of where you are right now.
How to review your curriculum
Review your curriculum with our step-by-step guide, including how to audit both your curriculum design and delivery.
Use our audit to help you look at the big picture when it comes to your curriculum, so you can make sure you’re offering all your pupils a broad and balanced education.
Understand the 3 core principles of curriculum design and use these to improve your curriculum.
How to design a curriculum
Be clear on how to design an effective curriculum with this guidance on 3 core principles to bear in mind, plus resources and examples to help you improve your curriculum design.
Understand what a knowledge-rich curriculum is and prepare for common challenges you might face when implementing one. See approaches from 3 schools to help you get started.
Understand how inspectors will judge your design and delivery, and use our jargon buster to brush up on key terms.
How Ofsted inspects curriculum and teaching
Understand how Ofsted will inspect curriculum and teaching under the 2025 framework, and the key evidence inspectors will consider. Use our self-evaluation tool to review your current provision.
Get an idea of what Ofsted could ask you and your colleagues all in 1 place, so you feel confident talking to inspectors. Find out what they could ask headteachers and SLT, DSLs, middle leaders, SENCOs, teachers, SBMs and TAs under the 2025 inspection framework.
Know your 'design' from your 'delivery'? Your 'substantive' from your 'disciplinary'? Check how much you know about these and other key terms. Share our handout with staff to help them brush up on their curriculum knowledge too.
Make your curriculum more diverse, inclusive and accessible
Use our articles and tools to make sure your curriculum is diverse, inclusive and accessible. Know what steps to take to embed these principles in your curriculum.
How to improve racial diversity in your children’s books
Find out how to improve representation and diversity in your school library and classrooms, so they reflect the society we live in and all of your pupils feel represented and valued.
Use our curriculum audit to help develop inclusivity, and question and adapt what you’re teaching so your curriculum represents the diversity of gender and sexuality in modern Britain.
Curriculum accessibility for pupils with SEND: checklist
To help pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) reach their full potential, they first must have equal access to your curriculum. Use our checklist to stay compliant with the Equality Act and SEND regulations.
February is LGBT+ History Month. Use these ideas and resources to help you talk to your pupils about the experiences of people who are LGBTQ+, highlight their contributions to culture and society, and make sure your curriculum and school is inclusive all year round.
Prepare your pupils for life in modern Britain by providing 'cultural capital' that celebrates all cultures, and reflects your community and the country's diversity.
Subject leader reports are a way to assess, review and develop different areas of the curriculum. See some examples, and use our template to write your own.
Termly tasks for primary subject leaders: checklist
Download our checklist to help you plan ahead and keep on top of your termly tasks. It covers curriculum planning, subject monitoring and setting your subject vision.
English: how to audit and improve your curriculum design (secondary)
Use our audit tool to diagnose and address weaknesses or gaps in your English curriculum. It includes discussion starters to help you assess your approach and suggests next steps based on your situation.
Maths: how to audit and improve your curriculum (secondary)
Use our audit tool to identify and address areas for development, or gaps in your maths curriculum. It includes discussion starters to help you assess your approach and suggests next steps based on your situation.
Geography: how to audit and improve your curriculum design (secondary)
Use our audit tool to diagnose and address weaknesses or gaps in your geography curriculum. It includes discussion starters to help you assess your approach and suggests next steps based on your situation.
History: how to audit and improve your curriculum design (secondary)
Use our audit tool to diagnose and address weaknesses or gaps in your history curriculum. It includes discussion starters to help you assess your approach and suggests next steps based on your situation.
Modern foreign languages (MFL): how to audit and improve your curriculum design (secondary)
Use our audit tool to diagnose and address weaknesses or gaps in the curriculum for any language. It includes discussion starters to help you assess your approach and suggests next steps based on your situation.
The Key has taken great care in publishing this article. However, some of the article's content and information may come from or link to third party sources whose quality, relevance, accuracy, completeness, currency and reliability we do not guarantee. Accordingly, we will not be held liable for any use of or reliance placed on this article's content or the links or downloads it provides. This article may contain information sourced from public sector bodies and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.