The new syllabus is due to be introduced in late 2009/2010 following the release and alleged validation of CQB15. We're currently working to CQB13 with some questions from CQB14 being imported in dribs and drabs by the CAA. The new syllabus, on its own, would be a definite improvement on the current one mainly because it removes the duplications that GIZZAJOB refers to above and some areas of silliness, like the requirement for helicopter students to name the components of fixed wing aircraft, things like flaps and ailerons. It also refers to current regulations, like EU OPS rather than out-of-date areas of JAR OPS.
The problems are (1) that the CAA want to introduce loads of new questions at the same time, and history suggests they will be rubbish and (2) they haven't come clean about how they will manage the transition although they have informally suggested that they will run two sets of exams in parallel for a while to allow students who have already started training to finish on the syllabus which they have been taught.
We have a meeting with them on Wednesday to discuss this. More later.