DfE Launches English Baccalaureate (EBacc) Consultation

Following the announcement in June about the government’s commitment for pupils starting secondary school this September to study the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) subjects and take their GCSEs in 2020. The Secretary of State has today launched a consultation on proposals to implement this commitment.

As part of the Secretary of State’s announcement on promoting educational excellence everywhere, she also announced further information about the new National Teaching Service and changes to primary assessment. You can read the Press Release HERE.

The proposals relating to the EBacc form part of the government’s plan to give children the best possible start in life. The government wants all young people, regardless of their background, to have the skills, knowledge and character to succeed. As part of this ambition, in time, the government wants to see at least 90% of pupils in mainstream secondary schools entered for the EBacc subjects at GCSE. However, the government recognises that taking the full EBacc will remain inappropriate for a small minority of pupils. The consultation sets out the details of these proposals, including the pupils and schools in scope of the policy and changes to accountability measures.

Since the announcement in June, the Department has had a number of extremely helpful discussions with a wide variety of groups and individuals and the consultation recognises the changes that some schools will need to make to increase the numbers of pupils entering the EBacc.

These conversations have informed the shape of the DfE’s proposals and they will continue to consult widely over the 12 week consultation period.

Please consider the proposals set out in this consultation document and offer your views by the deadline of 29th January 2016.

The consultation can be accessed HERE.