Over recent months, Lessons4Life has continued to advance its mission to ensure every child in the UK develops the essential life skills needed to thrive in modern society. Although we are still awaiting formal responses to the Lessons4Life white paper submitted back in July to the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Education, and Chair of the Curriculum and Assessment Review – our momentum has not slowed.
This update outlines where we stand, what the latest developments in curriculum and assessment policy mean for our campaign, and how we are preparing for the next stage of national engagement around personal development in schools.
Reflecting on the Curriculum and Assessment Review
The recently published final report from the Curriculum and Assessment Review panel marks a significant moment for education policy in England. It highlights a growing recognition that pupils need stronger foundations in practical life skills, and it offers several positive proposals for strengthening personal development within the primary curriculum.
We are encouraged by the recommendation to introduce compulsory citizenship content for all primary pupils. The inclusion of financial literacy, media literacy, climate education and sustainability reflects long-standing evidence showing the value of early, structured life-skills education. These proposals echo many of the priorities championed by Lessons4Life.
However, the report also exposes persistent gaps. Broader PSHE education still receives no formal recognition within the statutory curriculum, and the updated RSHE guidance published in July remains the only substantial shift in policy. While helpful, these changes do not provide the systemic, coherent approach schools require to deliver meaningful and consistent life-skills learning.
What Is Still Missing from National Policy?
Despite encouraging signals, there is still a long way to go before pupils’ personal development is properly integrated into England’s education system. Several gaps continue to hold schools back.
- A Unified DfE Policy Framework
Schools need clarity. Without a consolidated and coherent framework bringing together currently fragmented policies, personal development is left to interpretation, creating inconsistency across the country.
- A National Measurement Framework
There is still no robust national system for the assessment of pupils’ progress in PSHE/RSHE. A clear and accessible approach is vital if schools are to track, evidence and elevate the impact of their provision.
- Long-Term Funding and Support
Teachers require ongoing training, practical tools and sustained investment to deliver high-quality programmes. Without committed funding, schools face significant challenges embedding these reforms.
- Time in the Curriculum
Perhaps the most familiar challenge: the curriculum remains too crowded. Schools simply do not have sufficient time to integrate essential life skills in a meaningful and structured way.
What Happens Next for Lessons4Life?
Gathering Insights from Schools and Stakeholders
We are now actively seeking feedback from school leaders, teachers, parents and organisations across the sector. What does the Curriculum and Assessment Review mean for you going forward? What remains missing from the national approach to personal development? And what support would have the greatest impact?
We welcome contributions in any form, from short blogs or direct email. Your insights will directly inform our next phase of policy work.
Policy Response and Parliamentary Engagement
There is still a crucial window of opportunity to influence decision-making in Westminster and Whitehall. Over the coming weeks, we will:
- Compile stakeholder perspectives into a collective policy response
- Draft a co-signed letter to ministers and senior officials
- Invite supporters to share this letter with their local MPs
- Continue engaging parliamentarians already linked to our campaign
We are also exploring plans for a further Lessons4Life parliamentary event in the New Year, aimed at sustaining momentum and showcasing the urgent need to embed life-skills education into national policy. We warmly welcome contact from anyone able to support this work, including through financial or logistical contributions.
Our Ongoing Commitment
One message is clear: schools cannot deliver change alone. Teachers need evidence-based resources, high-quality professional development and clear guidance to deliver meaningful life-skills education that truly prepares children for the world beyond the classroom.
Lessons4Life remains firmly committed to providing practical tools that bring personal development to life, and to continue campaigning for the structural reform necessary to ensure every child gains the skills, knowledge and opportunities they deserve.
Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to sharing further updates as the next steps of the campaign unfold.
