The Morning Poll: Do you agree with the Education Secretary that public speaking should be assessed in GCSEs?

Lucy Powell, the Education Secretary, announced plans to overhaul the national curriculum in England, making speaking and communication skills equal to reading and writing. This move includes integrating public speaking into GCSE exams and reducing academic writing in subjects like music, PE, and drama. The announcement was criticized by Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary for the Tories, who argued that such changes would create confusion for schools and potentially undermine a knowledge-rich curriculum.

Powell's predecessor, Bridget Phillipson, had proposed more modest reforms. Her review, led by Professor Becky Francis, recommended keeping much of the existing content unchanged. The new plans are seen as a significant departure from previous efforts to "toughen up" education standards under former Tory governments.

The changes have sparked debate about their impact on educational standards and how they might affect students' academic performance in traditional subjects like English and history. Critics, including the Confederation of School Trusts, suggest that these reforms could dilute the rigor of GCSE exams and ultimately harm children's learning outcomes.