Schools should be at the forefront of curriculum development, according to the Association of College and School Leaders (ACSL).

This move away from central government will go a long way towards establishing a curriculum that is focused on “creativity, dynamism and relevance,” explained the ASCL’s general secretary Brian Lightman.

Speaking at the association’s annual conference, Mr Lightman called on the government to put more trust in teachers to shape what children learn, “rather than imposing relentless change from above".

He told delegates that a “national core curriculum” would be established by an independent commission that was made up of school leaders, teachers, parents, governors and even politicians.

To do away with a constant stream of amendments and implementation of new policies, this commission would gather every five years to discuss what could be improved and what could be introduced.

Mr Lightman went on to say that it should be the case that teachers are given the power to assess their pupils’ practical work during courses “as part of their final grades”.

“The answer lies in trusting the teaching profession, and the profession showing it is ready to step up to this challenge,” he expanded, as he advocated the importance of assessment by professionals in general.

“It is certainly a skill which other countries emphasise far more strongly in their teacher education and professional development.”

Education secretary Nick Morgan, who was also in attendance at the conference, said she disagreed with Mr Lightman’s comments, stating that the responsibility of setting a curriculum lies with “democratically elected representatives”.

“That isn’t because I think I understand algebra any better than you do, or that Nick Gibb understands phonics any better than the teachers that teach it, although don’t tell him that,” she said.

“But because I think that parents should be able to hold us to account for the decisions we make about what their children are learning and what they’re not; and the surest way to make sure they can do that is at the ballot box.