Sweeping changes to the national curriculum are unlikely to be ready for the 2015 school year, despite widespread agreement the syllabus needs decluttering.

A review co-chaired by education consultant Kevin Donnelly and academic Ken Wiltshire was released on Sunday and raised concerns schools were not devoting enough time to basic numeracy and literacy because the curriculum was 'overcrowded'.

The finding has been backed by the federal Opposition, principals and Catholic and independent schools.

However, Education Minister Christopher Pyne on Monday conceded any change would not take effect until at least 2016.

"I think it's too late for 2015, I hope it will be for 2016, I don't see why it shouldn't," Mr Pyne told ABC radio, adding an agreement with the states and territories "might well take time".

Mr Pyne will meet with his state and territory counterparts in December.

They will asked to consider whether maths, science and history should be a core focus of a child's first three years of schooling, or just literacy and numeracy.

Mr Pyne declined to reveal the federal government's preference because he said it was a decision for all education ministers, not just the Commonwealth.

He also batted away questions about funding, claiming schools had all the money they needed to implement and teach an amended curriculum.

"This curriculum review is about improving the outcomes for students, it's not about money…schools are awash with extra funds from the Commonwealth," he said.

"It's a bit asinine in Australia that we can't discuss the curriculum without some voices immediately shouting for more money."

Mr Pyne said there was "a lot more" to school education than "just demanding more money".

"This is a very important review and it will make a big difference, if most of it's recommendations are impemented," he said.

"The core curriculum will continue to focus around English, history, maths and science. The difference would be in primary school years there'd be a focus on literacy and numeracy and getting the basics right."

He said it was proper to focus on "trying to get more depth rather than breadth" in primary school.

The review made 30 recommendations to improve the curriculum.