Labour has pledged in its manifesto to 鈥渕odernise the school curriculum鈥, but wants to 鈥渂uild on鈥 the success of 鈥渒nowledge-rich syllabuses鈥. In what is likely to be seen as a further effort to reassure traditionalists in education, the party also said its curriculum review would consider the 鈥渞ight balance of assessment methods whilst protecting the important role of examinations鈥. The manifesto only sets out policies that have already been announced, although some have inevitably evolved or changed slightly since they were announced 鈥 some as long ago as 2021. Further details on what the party has said on its policies before can be found in our policy tracker. In the document, the party pledged to 鈥渄rive up standards, modernise the school curriculum, reform assessment, and create higher-quality training and employment paths by empowering communities to develop the skills people need鈥. 鈥淢ost children attend schools where the Conservatives are failing to provide the support and teaching that they need. Labour will end the VAT exemption and business rates relief for private schools to invest in our state schools.鈥 Conservatives manifesto 2024: All the schools policies The party has also provided updated costings for some of its policies. It said the 拢315 million cost of breakfast clubs would be met from closing non-dom tax loopholes. Meanwhile, the party expects to raise 拢1.5 billion from its plans to apply VAT and business rates to private schools. This will fund its plan to recruit 6,500 teachers (拢450 million), increased teacher and headteacher training (拢270 million), work experience and careers advice for all young people (拢85 million) and early language interventions (拢5 million). The party said it would also cover its Ofsted reforms (拢45 million), opening more than 3,000 new school nurseries (拢35 million) and mental health support for every school (拢175 million). Curriculum, assessment and accountability Launch an expert-led review of curriculum and assessment, 鈥渨orking with school staff, parents and employers鈥. Reforms will 鈥渂uild on the hard work of teachers who have brought their subjects alive with knowledge-rich syllabuses, to deliver a curriculum which is rich and broad, inclusive, and innovative鈥 The review will also 鈥渃onsider the right balance of assessment methods whilst protecting the important role of examinations鈥 Support children to study a creative or vocational subject until they are 16, and 鈥渆nsure accountability measures reflect this鈥 鈥淒o the same鈥 for numeracy as phonics has for reading Fund 鈥渆vidence-based鈥 early-language interventions in primary schools Introduce new regional improvement teams to 鈥渆nhance school-to-school support, and spread best practice鈥 Replace single headline Ofsted grades with a new report card system 鈥渢elling parents clearly how schools are performing鈥 Bring multi-academy trusts 鈥渋nto the inspection system鈥 Introduce a 鈥渘ew annual review of safeguarding, attendance, and off-rolling鈥 Recruitment and retention Recruit an additional 6,500 new 鈥渆xpert鈥 teachers into shortage subjects, support 鈥渁reas that face recruitment challenges鈥, and tackle retention issues Review the way bursaries are allocated and the 鈥渟tructure of retention payments鈥 Update the early career framework, maintaining 鈥渋ts grounding in evidence鈥 Ensure any new teacher entering the classroom 鈥渉as, or is working towards鈥, qualified teacher status Introduce a teacher training entitlement to 鈥渆nsure teachers stay up to date on best practice with continuing professional development鈥 Reinstate the school support staff negotiating body, which will 鈥渉elp address the acute recruitment and retention crisis in support roles鈥 Create a new excellence in leadership programme, a 鈥渕entoring framework that expands the capacity of headteachers and leaders to improve their schools鈥 SEND, inclusion and mental health Take a 鈥渃ommunity-wide approach鈥 to SEND, improving 鈥渋nclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs鈥 Make sure admissions decisions 鈥渁ccount for the needs of communities鈥 Require all schools to 鈥渃o-operate with their local authority on school admissions, SEND inclusion, and place planning鈥 Provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school, so 鈥渆very young person has access to early support to address problems before they escalate鈥 Cost of living Fund free breakfast clubs in 鈥渆very primary school, accessible to all children鈥 Bring down the cost of school by 鈥渓imiting the number of branded items of uniform and PE kit that schools can require鈥 Other policies Open an additional 3,000 nurseries through upgrading space in primary schools (the actual figure is 3,334) Guarantee two weeks鈥 worth of work experience for every young person Improve careers advice in schools and colleges Improve data sharing across services with a single unique identifier for children Bring forward a 鈥渃omprehensive strategy for post-16 education鈥 Protect time for physical education, and support the 鈥渞ole grassroots clubs play in expanding access to sport鈥 Launch a new national music education network 鈥 a “one-stop shop with information on courses and classes for parents, teachers and children鈥 Ensure schools 鈥渁ddress misogyny and teach young people about healthy relationships and consent鈥 Introduce a supervised tooth-brushing scheme for 3 to 5-year-olds, targeting the areas of highest need