The first part of this module deals with cross-cutting curriculum themes identified by CAR. Later, we will add support for disciplinary and substantive elements of the programmes of study.

The CAR report indicated a number of cross-cutting themes for subjects to either address or take into consideration.

The Review has highlighted demand for more applied knowledge and skills in the curriculum, including financial, digital and media literacy, as well as climate education and oracy. We welcome the Review’s focus on these important areas…

A new oracy framework will support primary teachers to ensure their pupils become confident, fluent speakers and listeners by the end of key stage 2, and our new secondary oracy, reading and writing framework will enable secondary teachers to connect and embed all three of those vital skills in each of their subjects as part of a whole school strategy. We will ensure that vital applied knowledge and skills in financial, media and digital literacy are embedded into the revised curriculum, and we will improve climate and sustainability education, in the relevant subjects.

We’ll teach our young people to think critically and act thoughtfully, armed with the digital, financial and media literacy they need to thrive in the modern world. Rather than produce passive consumers of information and disinformation, we must encourage our young people to go further.

(Government response to Curriculum and Assessment Review 2025)

The cross-cutting themes highlighted are:

• Literacy*
• Numeracy

And in addition…

• Digital literacy
• Media Literacy*
• Oracy*
• Climate, environment and sustainability*
• Financial literacy

* = those themes that particularly apply to history. This does not mean that history does not apply to or support other themes.