Put speaking on par with reading and writing, education secretary Lucy Powell says

Speaking and communication skills will get equal status with reading and writing as part of an overhaul of the national curriculum by Lucy Powell.

The Education Secretary is set to announce today that the ability to speak confidently will be 'hardwired' into a revised national curriculum and assessed as part of GCSE exams.

In addition, she plans to reduce the amount of academic writing in subjects such as music, PE and drama, instead adopting more 'practical' modes of assessment.

Last night, it was feared her ideas would reverse many of the reforms to 'toughen up' the curriculum under previous Tory governments.

Laura Trott, shadow education secretary, said: 'Blowing open the curriculum and assessment review once again creates more confusion for schools and risks reopening the hard-won debate over the importance of a knowledge-rich curriculum.'

The move signals a change from the ideas of her predecessor, Bridget Phillipson, who argued for smaller changes to teaching.

Ms Phillipson's landmark curriculum review, led by Professor Becky Francis, found that much of the content should remain unchanged.

It comes after the latest international tests run by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development showed England shooting up world league tables following the Tories' reforms.

In her speech today, Ms Powell will argue that 'practical skills are disappearing from practical subjects, just when the world demands the opposite', according to The Times.

'That isn't politics or ideology; it's a fact.'

She will also say that, with the rise of artificial intelligence, the ability of young people to communicate in person will become far more important – something state schools have tended not to prioritise.

'That ability to articulate yourself confidently is central to success in work and life,' she will say. 'But for too long it's been a marker of privilege. Now it will become the right of every child. Nobody left out because they can't speak up.'

Government sources claimed Ms Powell would not rip up the Francis review.

A senior education source said the announcements from Ms Powell were 'vibes', retrogressive and light on detail.

As part of the overhaul, Ms Powell has already announced she wants new vocational GCSEs to sit beside academic ones.

Previously, Ms Phillipson was keen to ensure more teenagers could take art, music or drama at GCSE while retaining some pressure on them to choose humanities and languages as well.

The source said Ms Powell's 'radical' plans could leave all GCSE options open, losing any stipulation for humanities or languages.

A source close to Ms Powell said: 'If we are serious about improving young people's life chances, we need an education system that reaches beyond the classroom.'