At Babraham, we want to ensure that our curriculum is not only tailored to our pupils’ interests and needs, but also ensures they are ready for life in the wider world. Following a review of our curriculum, we introduced subject-based lessons, where pupils can articulate, and have a passion for, subject-based learning.
With support from DEMAT, we introduced the Primary Knowledge Curriculum (PKC) - developed by the Knowledge Schools Trust - to help structure our curriculum. This ensures that our provision for History, Geography, Science and Art is a ‘carefully sequenced, knowledge-rich curriculum which aims to inspire pupils, promote excellent outcomes for all and overcome inequality of opportunity.’
What is a Knowledge Rich Curriculum?
A knowledge rich curriculum at Babraham;
- places powerful knowledge at the heart of the curriculum
- has carefully chosen content
- is organised in a coherent way, ensuring it builds from year to year
- is cumulative, constructing firm foundations from which children can build conceptual understanding and skills over time
- is an entitlement for every child, regardless of background
- is coherent and ensures that teaching does not jump from topic to topic, but enables children to develop knowledge and a love of learning
We have focused our review on what content should be taught, in what order, whilst reflecting upon what children remember and how they remember it. The Primary Knowledge Curriculum (PKC) has been developed in line with current thinking on how children learn. Importantly, findings from cognitive science are beginning to influence practice in the classroom.
An essential element of a knowledge curriculum is the development of a broad and rich vocabulary, and the ambitious and explicit teaching of this. The vocabulary content of the Primary Knowledge Curriculum has been planned with the purpose of addressing the ‘word gap’ for children who enter school with a limited vocabulary.
