The Department for Education said that the review will take into account emerging conclusions of the Early Years Foundation Stage review, to ensure a smooth transition from the EYFS to Key Stage 1.
Last summer ministers confirmed they would not go ahead with the new primary curriculum developed by Sir Jim Rose under the previous Government, because they thought it was too watered down in subjects like history and geography.
A panel of experts to oversee the content of the new curriculum and draft new 'programmes of study' will be chaired by Tim Oates, director of Assessment Research and Development at Cambridge Assessment.
Panel members include heads of primary and secondary schools, including former primary head teacher Ruth Miskin, founder of the phonics-based literacy programme Read Write Inc.
The review will be carried out in two phases and the new curriculum implemented during 2013-2014.
Launching the review, Mr Gove said the UK had 'sunk in international league tables' and the national curriculum was 'substandard'.
He added, 'Our review will examine the best school systems in the world and give us a world-class curriculum that will help teachers, parents and children know what children should learn at what age.'
But Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said, 'There is absolutely no need for Michael Gove to throw out platitudes such as restoring "academic rigour" to the national curriculum, as this is something that has never left it.
'While recognising that the curriculum is over-prescriptive, the education secretary appears to be dictating not only which subjects are the most important, but also what should be taught within them.'