The government’s proposals for how to get at least 90% of pupils to take GCSEs in the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) subjects* have been published.

The consultation sets out how the government will fulfil its manifesto commitment that the vast majority of pupils currently in year 7 should, in five years’ time, be entered for the EBacc at GCSE. “This academic core shouldn’t be the preserve of an academic elite,” says the Secretary of State for Education, “it should be the basic right of every single child”.

The DfE recognises the challenges involved in this ambition, including curriculum planning and teacher recruitment and training, but says it will “work with schools to explore the potential solutions”.

This consultation makes 6 proposals:

1. The EBacc will become the default option for all pupils, but schools should be able to determine the small minority of pupils for whom taking the whole EBacc is not appropriate. 
2. The proportion of pupils entering the EBacc will become a headline measure of secondary school performance. 
3. EBacc entry and attainment will be given a more prominent role in the Ofsted inspection framework.
4. EBacc data for mainstream secondary schools will be published by the government to allow schools, parents, and Ofsted, to understand how similar schools compare to each other. 
5. An additional measure will be published showing the EBacc Average Point Score. 
6. Special schools will not be expected to meet the 90% ambition.  Consultation is taking place on how the policy should apply to UTCs, studio schools and FE colleges.