The Francis Review: a patronising take on English primary education?
Primary education: marginalised by the Francis review? Image: iStock/Getty Images
A former senior Her Majesty’s Inspector argues that the government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review, led by Professor Becky Francis, placed less emphasis on primary than secondary education.
Those of us involved with primary education are used to being patronised by those who have little or no experience of teaching that age-group. Why do I get the same feeilng from reading the Francis Review?
After all, compared with secondary education, primary education comes out almost unscathed. Far more of the detailed recommendations are directed at secondary rather than primary education. Most of the comments others have made on the review’s findings have related to that phase. Perhaps those of us involved in primary education should be really pleased, even relieved? Or perhaps not?
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By Colin Richards for EDUCATION UNCOVERED
Published: 28 November 2025
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Good article from Colin. Overall the CAR was timid - and definitely more focussed on secondary than primary. I know the remit was "evolution not revolution" but there has been little real engagement with the concerns of teachers. In primary no real challenge to (i) the balance of the curriculum skewed towards Ma and En (ii) no challenge to the focus on subjects 'disciplines' rather than a more holistic view and whilst the potential change to the emphasis on grammatical terminology rather than effective writing is welcome still not challenge to the assessment regime of testing at EYFS, KS1, TTC and KS2. Was looking at the Rose review (1999) recently that was shafted by Gove and also the Alexander Review. These both has a much more evidence informed approach to primary learning rooted in child-development not a flawed model of cognition rooted more in test preparation. Overall missed opportunities.