The UK’s Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR) has finally been published, bringing with it a clear signal of the direction of travel for British and British-aligned international schools. For schools overseas — particularly those working toward or maintaining BSO accreditation — understanding the expectations around curriculum coherence, subject progression and foundational knowledge is essential.
The good news? Schools using Cornerstones are already ahead of the curve.
Many of the themes and recommendations in the CAR reflect curriculum principles that have been embedded in our model for years.
This blog gives you a clear overview of what the CAR means for international schools and how Cornerstones can help you implement any necessary changes quickly, confidently and with expert support.
Why this matters for British international schools
International schools following the British National Curriculum (or a version of it) will be expected to stay close to UK developments. Inspectors — including BSO teams — will be looking for:
- Coherent progression in every subject.
- Clearly sequenced knowledge from EYFS to KS2.
- Strong foundations in core subjects.
- Concept-led, (not topic-led), curriculum design.
- Inclusion, differentiation and representational breadth.
- Clarity for non-specialist staff.
- Effective assessment tied to curriculum progression.
These are exactly the areas the CAR focuses on — and they are also areas where the Cornerstones curriculum already excels.
How Cornerstones already meets the new expectations
The CAR calls for changes such as:
• Clearer sequencing and progression
Cornerstones already provides full, age-appropriate progression frameworks, from EYFS to KS2, across all subjects.
• Strong foundational knowledge
Our knowledge-rich subject pathways, retrieval practice and tiered vocabulary support already reflect this principle.
• Concept-led curricula
Our Big Ideas model ensures children build a deep understanding of key concepts over time — exactly as CAR recommends.
• Greater clarity for non-specialists
Cornerstones subjects, projects and planning notes already offer explicit knowledge, practical guidance, formative checks and structured progression.
• Practical, real-world learning
CAR emphasises purposeful practical work in subjects like science, art, design technology, computing and geography — all central to Cornerstones.
• Inclusion and accessibility
Our curriculum supports schools internationally to meet the needs of diverse learners, including multilingual pupils and those with SEND. For international schools, this means you don’t need to redesign your curriculum in response to the CAR — Cornerstones already places you in an excellent position.
Why this is especially beneficial for schools seeking BSO accreditation
- A well-organised, sequenced curriculum.
- Clear progression documents.
- Evidence that pupils build knowledge securely over time.
- Alignment with the English National Curriculum.
- Strong subject leadership.
- Effective assessment linked directly to curriculum outcomes.
- A broad, balanced, inclusive offer.
Cornerstones give schools all of this — and with the CAR now strengthening expectations around curriculum design, our approach helps you demonstrate:
- rigour
- coherence
- conceptual clarity
- age-appropriate progression
- alignment with UK expectations
This can significantly streamline your preparation for an upcoming BSO inspection.
Rapid implementation for international schools
Many British international schools face the same challenges:
- high staff turnover
- reliance on non-specialist teachers
- difficulty maintaining continuity of curriculum
- adapting UK guidance to local context
- limited time to redesign subject pathways
We understand this, and we can help you respond to the CAR with speed and confidence.
Our team can support you to:
- Review your current curriculum offer.
- Map CAR recommendations against what you already deliver.
- Update your planning, sequencing and progression using Maestro.
- Train staff in using concept-led, knowledge-rich planning.
- Prepare documentation for BSO, COBIS or CIS inspection.
- Maintain long-term curriculum continuity even with high turnover.
Because Cornerstones already aligns with so many of the CAR principles, adjustments are usually light-touch, and we can help you implement them quickly.
Download our accompanying guide
The accompanying guide attachment summarises:
- Key CAR recommendations for KS1 & KS2.
- What the Cornerstones curriculum already covers.
- Which adaptations we will update for you.
- Where additional enhancements may be required (minimal and supported).
This makes it easy to brief staff, governors, BSO inspectors or your school group leadership.
Our commitment to international schools
At Cornerstones, our role is to:
- Keep your curriculum aligned with UK expectations.
- Update Maestro content in response to confirmed changes.
- Provide expert, human support (not AI-generated guidance).
- Help international schools understand, interpret and implement UK curriculum shifts.
- Ensure your curriculum stays high-quality, connected and future proof.
We work with schools across the Middle East, Europe and Asia — and we understand the unique challenges and opportunities that British international schools face.
If you’re an international school wanting clarity, consistency and BSO –ready curriculum documentation… we are here to help.
If you’d like a walkthrough of the CAR recommendations and how Cornerstones can support your school, contact us today via phone, email or live chat and one of our curriculum advisers will be happy to help.