All pupils will be expected to take a range of traditional GCSEs including science and a foreign language, according to Nicky Morgan, the education secretary.
Schools are now measured on how many pupils pass the “English baccalaureate”, which incorporates English, maths, a foreign language, science and history or geography.
The Conservatives are expected to go further in their election manifesto, however, by putting pressure on schools to teach these subjects to all pupils until the age of 16.
Schools that do not comply could be penalised by Ofsted, and find it impossible to achieve a good or outstanding rating from the schools regulator.
English and maths are already compulsory for all pupils. Critics claim that some schools enter pupils for other GCSEs that are easier to pass, thus boosting their positions in league tables, and restricting teenagers’ chances of getting into a good university. Others say, however, that there is no point forcing pupils to take subjects which they do not understand or enjoy to GCSE level.
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Mrs Morgan, who replaced Michael Gove as education secretary, said the presumption that all children should study at least five core subjects would help to address inequalities in the education system. “We want students to be able to keep their options open for as long as possible in terms of what they are going to do after school or college,” she said.
“In selective schools or schools with a low proportion of free school meals, that is what they are already doing. But that is not always happening in less advantaged areas.” Under the Tory proposals, Ofsted could give a “good” or “outstanding” rating only to a school that enrols all its pupils in the core GCSE subjects, which together form the English baccalaureate.
“These core academic subjects offer children great opportunities,” Mrs Morgan said. “They are what universities are looking for. I want to make it clear to pupils how important maths is, in terms of earnings and keeping career options open.”
As well as schools pushing these choices on pupils, Mrs Morgan said that parents had a responsibility to encourage their children to take traditional academic subjects. She promised to allow popular schools to expand, telling TheSunday Telegraph: “I want to work with schools and authorities to look at the provision of places. We want good schools to expand and free schools are very much a part of that.”
Modern foreign languages were compulsory at GCSE until 2004, when they became optional. After that, take-up fell by a third, having a knock-on effect on numbers taking A levels and degrees in the subject.
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From this week, primary schools will have to teach languages such as French, German or Spanish to pupils from the age of seven.
Other curriculum changes being introduced this term include computer coding lessons for all primary pupils, and personal finance lessons for secondary pupils.