Curriculum design plays a vital role in ensuring students feel motivated to attend school. However, as Jonno Wood, Alternative Learning Manager at Bath Rugby Foundation, points out, the current education system often misses the mark.

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"We are getting this wrong as a country by forcing students into sessions they can't handle over and over again until they give up and stop attending," Jonno explains.

At Bath Rugby Foundation, we recognise the need for change and are pioneering a new approach. Recently, we invited a professional carpenter to teach our students how to build cranes—blending carpentry with mathematics. This hands-on method not only teaches practical skills but also ties into what our students aspire to do after leaving school.

The results speak for themselves. Students who previously struggled with attendance showed up for five hours of learning with 100% engagement. For many of these young people, this level of participation was unprecedented.

Jonno emphasises that the national curriculum framework often forces schools into a rigid structure that doesn’t resonate with every learner. This approach leaves many students disengaged, resulting in absenteeism and lost opportunities.

With the Government currently reviewing the national curriculum, Bath Rugby Foundation is eager to see how these changes will impact education. We believe a more flexible and practical curriculum could help reverse the trend of declining attendance and disengagement.

We want to hear your thoughts too. How can schools better support students through curriculum reform? Share your views with us as we continue to advocate for learning that inspires confidence, builds life skills, and creates pathways to independence.