Schools should make more use of the “considerable flexibilities” allowed them by the National Curriculum, according to a powerful Government-backed review published today.

Although the National Curriculum “was never intended to describe the whole curriculum, many primary and secondary schools nevertheless perceive it as being too extensive and prescriptive, with too little scope for local flexibility.”

Written by a group led by Christine Gilbert, chief inspector of schools in England, the report observes that: “While considerable flexibilities exist, schools do not use these to the extent they might.” For example “there is no requirement that curriculum content should be taught in subject blocks.”

It therefore recommends:

• schools should consider how best to ensure that their curriculum and associated assessment support personalising learning, making use of existing curriculum flexibilities and reporting on progress to their governing body.

The report also raised concern that "For too many pupils, school does not engage them or equip them with the skills they need." One of the skills that children need to develop in order to work effectively in a knowledge-based economy is "knowing how to evaluate information critically".

The report, 2020 Vision, was commissioned by Government Ministers to identify how teaching can be tailored to the needs of individual children by 2020.