The Vision behind the Core Knowledge Curriculum

Our Topic Curriculum was first implemented in 2021, produced by a curriculum team consisting of members of the school teaching team and an external specialist advisor. This is a curriculum produced by teachers for teachers. Topic encompasses the following subjects: Geography, History, Design Technology and Art & Design. Our chosen topics cover the NC POS using a layered coverage model (combining ‘in-depth studies’ and ‘lighter touch focuses’). It is a carefully sequenced, knowledge-rich curriculum which aims to inspire pupils, promote excellent outcomes for all and overcome inequality of opportunity.

What is the Intent of our Topic Curriculum?

The knowledge content has been carefully chosen, for local relevance, and sequenced in a coherent way, ensuring it builds from year to year cumulatively. This constructs firm foundations from which pupils can build conceptual understanding and skills over time. We have been careful to weave in elements that ensure pupils are inspired, inquisitive and that this curriculum promotes independence.

The ultimate intent is that, due to the progressive nature of our topic curriculum, pupils retain high quality knowledge in their long-term memory - knowledge that can be applied across the curriculum and free the working memory to deepen their critical thinking skills.

How is the Topic Curriculum implemented?

Our Topic Curriculum is an enquiry-based model, with enquiry questions scaffolding a sequence of children’s learning through a topic. Progression of skills documents in all four subject areas provide guidance for teaching and ensure the skills taught are progressive and address the age-related expectations for each year group.

History & Geography

Following the layered coverage model, there are ‘in-depth studies’ and ‘lighter touch focuses’ (where ‘history days’ and ‘geography days’ may allow for coverage). Age related expectations for each year group cover:

The History and Geography Curriculum Overview provides children with a breadth of inspiring projects across all year groups.  

Each new topic is started in pupils’ books with a title page and class display with specific, relevant vocabulary clearly visible for pupils to refer to.