RESOURCE | Curriculum and assessment study visit to Exeter College
09 February 2026
Alliance Study Visit to Exeter College: A Deep Dive into Curriculum and Assessment Reform
In December 2025, members of The College Alliance network came together at Exeter College for a focused study visit centred on curriculum and assessment reform.
The visit provided a valuable opportunity to engage in deeper, system-level conversations about how curriculum and assessment are evolving across the UK and Ireland — and what these changes mean in practice for colleges, learners, and employers.
Prepared as a foundational resource for the study visit, the Curriculum and Assessment Overview document served as a foundational resource that set out how curriculum and assessment is structured across England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, mapping learner journeys from primary education through to post-16 study, or the “senior phase”. Particular attention was given to areas of nuance that are often misunderstood, such as differences in GCSE grading and regulation, the role of national agencies, and how assessment systems are being adapted to better support learner progression.
A key focus of the discussions throughout the study visit was England’s 2024–2025 Curriculum and Assessment Review. The event created
space to explore the intent behind these reforms, as well as their
potential implications for teaching, learning, and assessment.
Participants also examined how other nations are responding to similar
pressures — including the modernisation of qualifications, the
recognition of vocational and technical routes, and the growing emphasis
on skills that reflect today’s economy and society.
Read and download the curriculum and assessment comparison resource here