Fractions for students as young as five years old and computer programming from the first year of school are among some of the revolutionary changes planned as part of Britain's new national curriculum released here today.
The new school education agenda, set to kick in from September 2014, is aimed at competing with some of the world's best school systems.
"No national curriculum can be modernised without paying close attention to what's been happening in education internationally," said education secretary Michael Gove, who believes the changes are necessary to keep pace with the achievements of pupils in other countries.
"I want my children, who are in primary school at the moment, to have the sort of curriculum that children in other countries have, which are doing better than our own," he added.
The new-look curriculum puts a stronger emphasis on skills such as essay writing, problem-solving, mathematical modelling and computer programming.
Under the overhaul, children will have to be able to recite poetry by the time they leave primary school and there will be a stronger emphasis on the works of Shakespeare.
History will be based on a clear chronology of Britain from the Stone Age to 1066 in primary school, with lessons focusing on the Norman Conquest to present day in secondary education.
Important figures such as war-time Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Queen Victoria will also be given special emphasis.
In computing, pupils will be taught how to code and solve practical computer problems at 11 rather than using work processing packages.
"We've looked at what's been happening in parts of the world like Massachusetts and Singapore where children are facing a much tougher curriculum, sitting much more rigorous exams and as a result are better equipped to succeed than our own children.
"I've got every confidence that our own children and, indeed, our own teachers, are the equal of anyone in the world, but we do need a more rigorous and relevant curriculum to help them achieve everything of which they are capable," Gove said.
But teachers' unions have warned against setting an unrealistic time-frame for the new curriculum.
"The timescale for implementation is far too compressed, with no indication that will be properly resourced," said Kevin Courtney, deputy general secretary of the National Union of Teachers.
