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HMC at Ditchley Park: Mapping the future of curriculum and assessment and building cross-sector consensus

sits at a conference table, smiling and looking to the side while holding a pen. She wears a dark blazer over a patterned blouse. In front of her are papers, a phone, a glass, and a bottle, with a nameplate and desk lamp also visible.

Kate Howell

Director of Education, HMC

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In the first week of March, HMC convened a meeting of education leaders from across the sector to discuss curriculum and assessment reform at Ditchley Park, a retreat in Oxfordshire.

The summit was planned to build on work led by Sarah Fletcher and the HMC Reform of Assessment Working Group, and to tie in with the Curriculum and Assessment Review commissioned by the government last Autumn, led by Professor Becky Francis. The CAR interim report was published this week, with a full report and recommendations due in Autumn 2025.

Over the last three years HMC has published its own report, Time to Talk (2021), delivered three Next Generation Assessment conferences in partnership, and submitted a cross-organisation response to the government’s CAR, written by members from the HMC Committees and the HMCj network.

At Ditchley Park, over a period of two days, through a mix of whole-group and break-out sessions, we worked quickly to set aside points of difference and identify areas of common ground. HMC was represented by Simon Hyde, Sarah Fletcher, Chris Stevens (Chair of the HMC Education Committee) and Kate Howell.

Included in the discussions were the Edge Foundation, the Chartered College of Teaching and Learning, Rethinking Assessment, the Foundation for Education Development (FED), ASCL, nasen (National Association for SEND), Heads of MATs, Skills Builder and Awarding Body organisations OCR, Pearson and IBO.

Through mixed group discussions we explored emerging themes in-depth, and considered how best we might use our collective influence and wisdom to support the change needed in the system, over the next ten years, to properly prepare young people for a bold, bright and rapidly-changing future.

Four people stand in conversation in an ornate room with classical decor, including a carved fireplace, wall-mounted antlers, and columns. They appear engaged and smiling, suggesting a casual networking moment during an event or meeting. A small group of people sit in a formal, elegant room engaged in discussion, while a woman stands near a flipchart labeled “AGENDA.” The setting includes classic furniture, a fireplace, ornate decor, and large windows providing natural light. Six people are engaged in a meeting around a wooden table in an ornate room with red and gold wallpaper. One person stands writing on a flipchart, while others sit listening or discussing. The room features classical portraits, antique furniture, and warm lighting. A large group of people sit around a U-shaped conference table in an ornate library-style room, engaged in discussion. The setting features red chairs, nameplates, notepads, and microphones, with bookshelves, portraits, and classical decor in the background. Four people sit around a blue-covered table in a formal meeting room, engaged in discussion. Notebooks, papers, and glasses are on the table. The room features classic decor, including framed portraits, a fireplace, and an ornate clock on a side table. Seven people are gathered in an ornate room for a meeting, with most seated on sofas and armchairs in a semi-circle. One man stands holding papers. The room features elaborate décor, a fireplace, framed portraits, chandeliers, and display cabinets with fine china.

Common themes emerged quickly:

  • The need to re-examine our purpose in education and create a properly joined up approach from KS1 to KS5
  • Explore independent-state school partnerships as a model for collaboration
  • Strive to end the skills/knowledge debate – recognising that both are important
  • Not all assessment needs to be ‘high stakes’
  • Importance of a digital qualification
  • Reduce curriculum content across subjects, whilst maintaining breadth
  • Emphasise teacher training and CPD, promote collaborative working, reflective practice and action research
  • Create regional educational communities to enable greater responsiveness to local needs and better sharing of resources

These themes align closely with HMC strategic objectives and education initiatives.

HMC aims to exemplify excellence in education, promote the discussion of national and international educational issues, and inform policy and public opinion about the independent sector. Supporting these aims, the HMC Education Team has set up 15 education networks which now connect over 3,000 senior leaders and practitioners across HMC schools and is currently working on developing an action research hub intended to support collaboration and reflective practice.

The education sector currently faces many significant issues: Rising rates of absenteeism, a teacher recruitment and retention crisis, pupils falling behind post-covid, increasing levels of anxiety and mental health issues to name a few.

The Becky Francis interim report states that the curriculum must evolve in response to global and technological advancements and affirms that integrating digital literacy, computing, and sustainability into the curriculum is essential to prepare students for future challenges. The report also acknowledges that while many pupils thrive under the existing curriculum, significant groups face barriers that hinder progress underscoring the importance of evolving the curriculum and assessment frameworks to be inclusive and responsive to societal and technological changes.

The Ditchley Group will meet again in two weeks’ time, this time online, to agree next steps which will centre around looking for the best ways to use our collective influence and wisdom to support the change needed.

The Education Team will keep members updated with developments.

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Date

25 March 2025

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