As you may be aware, a Curriculum and Assessment Review for England is underway. It will be the first review of England’s education system in more than a decade. As such, this is a crucial opportunity for the Food Education Network, our friends and supporters to shape the future curriculum of schools in England so that ‘food’ becomes an integral part of our children’s education. As an individual or organisation with an interest in this area, we urge you to have your say and respond to the Call for Evidence (closing date: 23:59pm on Friday 22 November).  

 

To make this process as simple as possible, The Food Education Network has developed a submission template which can be accessed here. Further details and background about the Review are detailed below, together with guidance on how to make a submission.  

 

Why does this Curriculum and Assessment Review matter? 

In the words of Professor Francis: “Education is important for its own sake. But it also plays a critical role in supporting all young people to thrive throughout life and in building a stronger economy and a more equitable society.”  

 

Food is a fundamental aspect of life. We need a curriculum that equips children and young people with the knowledge, skills and love of eating healthy, sustainable food they will retain for life. A curriculum that works well is also one that inspires educational progress for children and young people to take up rewarding careers in hospitality, food, and farming sectors. Regular, consistent food education with progression pathways will not only equip and empower children to navigate a complex, diverse and often unhealthy food system but also inspire and excite children to love eating a balanced diet.   

 

What will this Curriculum and Assessment Review entail? 

The Curriculum and Assessment Review has been set up to review the national curriculum and statutory assessment system in England, including qualification pathways. It will consider children and young people’s education and experiences from ages 5 to 19 to ensure they are fit for purpose and meeting their needs, by addressing existing problems and ensuring that these frameworks are fit for the future.   

 

It has been initiated over concerns about the breadth and depth of the curriculum, and whether it meets young people’s needs in terms of motivation and preparation for the future.  

 

The review panel, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE, CEO of the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), is running a Call for Evidence inviting people with an interest in this area (e.g. teachers, parents, pupils, academics, local authority officers) to share: 

• their ideas for potential improvements to the curriculum and assessment system in England 

• what works well with the current system 

• details of anything that doesn’t work. 

The Call for Evidence is open until 11:59pm on 22 November 2024. This evidence will inform the publication of an interim report in early 2025 which will set out the Review’s interim findings and confirm key areas for further work. The final report and recommendations are scheduled to be published in Autumn 2025. Once it is implemented, all state schools, including academies, will be required to teach the National Curriculum.   

​

Key suggestions and considerations related to food education 

As an individual or organisation interested in food education, we urge you to have your say and respond to the Call for Evidence. To make this process as simple as possible we have developed a submission template which can be accessed here that includes more detail and supporting research. 

In summary, The Food Education Network’s key suggestions and considerations are themed around the following areas:  

1. Adopting a mandatory Whole School Approach – holistically incorporate food throughout the school and in the curriculum beyond D&T, RSE&HE and Science. 

1. Incorporating food education as a standalone subject - food education must become a more valued subject, with detailed curriculum support for teachers. This can be achieved by developing a mandatory, stand-alone comprehensive food education curriculum for KS1-4 and reinstating the Food and Nutrition A-Level. 

1. Expanding topics and increased curriculum guidance - will provide a more comprehensive food education that goes beyond healthy eating e.g. cultural foods, healthy food relationships, sustainability, food and climate change, understanding nutrition claims and more. 

 

How to make a Call for Evidence submission 

Online submissions can be made via the Department for Education website accessed here. 

Your response should contain: 

• evidence to support your answers 

• specific examples 

• solutions that consider feasibility (where possible). 

Please note that the online submission form is quite lengthy and contains 54 questions. This is because the Review is for the entire curriculum and assessment process. Your submission does not need to respond to every section.  

 

Our template provides considerations and supporting evidence for the following sections related to food education:   

• Section 2 – Questions 10 and 11 

• Section 3 – Questions 12, 13, and 14 

• Section 4 – Question 16 

• Section 5 – Questions 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 

• Section 6 – Questions 28, 29, and 31 

• Section 7 – Question 44 

• Section 8 – Questions 48 and 51 

When reviewing the template content, please edit and adapt to suit your views and those of your organisation.  

 

The Food Education Network will also be writing to the Review panel to draw attention to the Network, our goals and our work.  

 

If you need any further information or advice please do not hesitate to get in touch with rachelb@schoolfoodmatters.org. 

​

​

​