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What is changing in the EBacc and Progress 8
The DfE consulted from February to May 2026 on a new Progress 8 and is removing the EBacc measures. Its response, promised for the summer term 2026, had not appeared by 5 October 2026. In the proposals, English keeps its double-weighted slot.
On 23 February 2026 the Department for Education opened a consultation on key stage 4 performance measures. It closed on 4 May 2026. The consultation document says: “We are also removing the EBacc entry and attainment measures.” It proposes a new Progress 8 for students who start their GCSEs in September 2027 and sit them in 2029.
The Curriculum and Assessment Review had recommended no change to the structure of Progress 8, only renaming the EBacc bucket ‘academic breadth’. The government went further. In its response of 5 November 2025 it said it would “consult on Progress 8 options to ensure that pupils can access a strong academic core and a breadth of subjects, including creative subjects”.
The proposed model
- Slot 1, English: the same rules as now. The consultation says “it will be based on the higher point score of a pupil’s GCSE English language or GCSE English literature (or relevant AS level)”, and “It will be double weighted provided a pupil has taken both qualifications.”
- Slot 2, maths: the current rules stay.
- Slots 3 and 4: science.
- Slots 5 and 6: breadth, filled from two of three categories (humanities, creative subjects and languages).
- Slots 7 and 8: choice, the two highest scores in any two other subjects. The consultation says the lower grade of English language or English literature can count here.
What it means for English departments
The English slot is unchanged in the proposals. A student who takes both English GCSEs has the better grade counted twice, and the other grade can count in a choice slot.
The bigger change comes after English and maths. Two slots are reserved for science, and the two breadth slots must come from two different categories, which affects the GCSE options a school puts to students alongside English.
What happens next
The DfE said it would publish its response “in the summer term 2026, so that schools can take the revised Progress 8 (P8) measure into account when determining subject choices for pupils who will start their GCSEs in September 2027”. As of 5 October 2026 the consultation page still says “We are analysing your feedback”.
Until the response appears, the model above is a proposal. Schools setting options for students who start Year 10 in September 2027 are planning without a final answer.
Sources
- Department for Education, Key stage 4 performance measures and targeted RISE extension (consultation, 23 February to 4 May 2026)
- Department for Education, Key stage 4 performance measures and targeted RISE extension: consultation document (February 2026)
- Department for Education, Progress 8 and Attainment 8: an explanation of the proposed improved model (November 2025)
- Department for Education, Government response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review (November 2025)
- Department for Education, Every child achieving and thriving (February 2026)
- Schools Week, DfE ignores Francis review and proposes sweeping progress 8 reform (5 November 2025)