The UK government has shared the new national curriculum plans, signalling a shift in modern-day learning, and recognising the day-to-day challenges faced by pupils, educators and families. For the first time ever, media literacy and the ability to identify misinformation are being placed alongside literacy, numeracy and digital skills, as essential life skills every young person should develop at school. This addition forms part of the government’s broader focus on giving pupils “the skills for life and work,” ensuring they leave education ready to participate in an increasingly complex digital world. “For the first time, primary aged children will gain vital skills like how to spot fake news and identify misinformation and disinformation, helping them develop the critical thinking needed to challenge what they see and protect them from online harms.” – Department for Education and Bridget Phillipson MP. Why the addition of media literacy in the curriculum matters The Department for Education’s curriculum update reflects the ever-changing challenges and needs faced in education settings within the digital age, namely the use of smart phones, social media and the prevalence of misinformation, that impressionable young people can be exposed to. Many children and young people encounter an often-unregulated stream of data, images, videos and social content. For some, issues can arise if they lack the skills to judge what’s accurate, biased, or misleading. The curriculum change comes as misinformation, conspiracy theories and AI-generated content sweep social media channels, and hit TV shows like Adolescence depict the urgency of problems the digital world can bring for some young people. The new curriculum, due to launch in September 2028, will require pupils to: Understand how digital and social media work – including how algorithms shape what they see online.Evaluate sources critically, distinguishing between credible journalism and misinformation.Recognise bias and persuasion techniques used in advertising, politics, and online debate.Develop digital resilience – learning how to pause, check and question before sharing content.Engage constructively in civic and online life, building respectful discussion skills and awareness of digital footprints. Some new curriculum changes include: 1. Media literacy becomes a cross-curricular priority The new framework integrates media awareness across English, humanities, and even science, rather than confining coverage to a single subject area, for example PSHE. Pupils will analyse bias in texts, question the reliability of online data, and learn how evidence is constructed and verified. Picture News schools have been linking to and practising these skills with the Media Literacy resource featured in each Picture News pack. Have a look at an example here. 2. Critical thinking within literacy and oracy Reading comprehension and writing frameworks are being expanded to include source evaluation and fact-checking skills. Pupils will be asked to read for credibility, as well as meaning. They will learn to assess where information comes from and how it might have been shaped, avoiding reading at face-value. A larger focus on oracy means pupils can be supported to talk with confidence, practice active listening, and share their thoughts and opinions respectfully with their peers. Promoting oracy, speaking and listening skills has been, and will remain, a key focus of Picture News resources as children grapple with what's happening in the world around them. 3. Digital capability and safety Pupils will learn how online platforms operate, how personal data is used, and how to participate safely and responsibly in online spaces. In a world where many young people spend a lot of time online, this change promotes understanding of the function of the platforms and devices they regularly engage with. 4. A national reading test for Year 8 and a stronger writing assessment for Year 6 The new reading test will include evaluative comprehension elements. It is thought this will encourage teachers to incorporate analysis and interpretation of modern media texts within their teaching. 5. Broader accountability and curriculum flexibility By making changes, such as removing the EBacc measure, it has been voiced by some that this update will therefore enable schools to allocate greater attention to enrichment and wider learning – including a focus on media literacy and exploring current affairs safely. We recommend spending time reading the update directly to discover all planned changes, thinking about what it means for your school’s current curriculum and looking ahead to making the required adjustments. What the curriculum update means for schools and teachers For schools, these changes may bring new possibilities and practical challenges. For example, whilst the focus on media literacy aims to educate a generation of media-savvy learners, teachers will need support to integrate media literacy meaningfully across the curriculum. Key priorities include: Curriculum planning and sequencing: Mapping where critical thinking and media evaluation naturally occur – for instance, in English when analysing texts, or in history when exploring sources. Professional development: Teachers will need training on how to discuss misinformation, AI, and online content confidently and safely. Resource access: Schools will benefit from trusted, age-appropriate teaching materials, that help pupils navigate online information ethically and wisely. Keep reading to learn more about Picture News, and how we can support you through this change! Next steps: Useful resources to support media literacy coverage Though the curriculum change isn’t set to come into effect until 2028, the need for media literacy skills remains. Ahead of the change, you may wish to begin introducing media literacy skills in your school setting, with a meaningful, real-life learning approach. Lots of schools are already underway with building the media literacy skills of their pupils, with the help of Picture News resources. Using Picture News for meaningful links to media literacy Each week, we send schools a new resource pack, all about a current news story. Resources contain a poster with an image showing the story in action and a thought-provoking discussion question, to get children thinking deeply and talking about the news. Alongside age-appropriate news content, assembly resources and differentiated classroom materials, the packs include a meaningful link to key media literacy skills through a weekly purpose-built Media Literacy resource. Check out the latest Picture News resource. Learn more about Picture News resources and subscriptions. //b667e803ea5399501dccf24f2b415eee.cdn.bubble.io/f1762357046127x470556666528699300/richtext_content.png Why not also… Try out an additional handy resource – The News Knowledge Organiser – to further media literacy learning. //b667e803ea5399501dccf24f2b415eee.cdn.bubble.io/f1762357175376x385597088509371800/richtext_content.png Reflecting on the curriculum changes The new national curriculum plans show how education needs to evolve to meet the needs and challenges faced by schools in the 21st century. Digital technology’s prevalence in our everyday lives is ultimately shaping teaching and learning priorities. As educators and parents, we can look ahead with hope, that changes like this can become a welcome support to equip and empower the younger generation with the skills to thrive in the ever-changing, modern world.
