Committee publication · Correspondence · 8 September 2025

Letter, dated 15 July 2025, from Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education, with original letter from Mr Speaker, dated 24 June 2025

From: Speaker's Conference (2024)

Inquiry: Speaker’s Conference on the security of candidates, MPs and elections

Summary

Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson responds to Speaker Lindsay Hoyle's 24 June letter on behalf of the Speaker's Conference regarding citizenship education. She confirms the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, chaired by Professor Becky Francis, is examining citizenship provision at primary and secondary levels, including coverage of politics, governance, digital literacy, and media literacy. An interim report has been published; final recommendations are expected in autumn.

Key findings

The Curriculum and Assessment Review is considering citizenship education at both primary and secondary stages, including politics, governance, and digital/media literacy
Interim report identifies that the curriculum must respond to social and technological change, particularly regarding artificial intelligence, digital information, and the need for heightened media literacy and critical thinking
Final recommendations from the Review are expected in autumn 2025
Department for Education intends to implement recommendations 'at pace' over the following months after receipt

Tone

Procedural

Topics

education-policycitizenshipcurriculum

Key actors

Bridget Phillipson MP, Lindsay Hoyle MP, Professor Becky Francis CBE, Speaker's Conference, Department for Education

Notable line

“… the curriculum needs to respond to social and technological change. with the rise of artificial intelligence and trends in digital information demanding heightened media literacy and critical thinking, as well as digital skills.”

Key Quotes

“The Review is committed to ensuring a high quality, knowledge-rich curriculum that drives excellence in education across a broad range of subjects and pathways.”
— Bridget Phillipson MP · describing the scope of the Curriculum and Assessment Review

“The interim report found that the curriculum needs to respond to social and technological change. with the rise of artificial intelligence and trends in digital information demanding heightened media literacy and critical thinking, as well as digital skills.”
— Bridget Phillipson MP · summarising key findings from the Review's interim report

“| want to assure you that my department intends to begin implementing these at pace over the following months.”
— Bridget Phillipson MP · committing to rapid implementation of future recommendations

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗