Cultural Capital
Ofsted defines cultural capital as…
“As part of making the judgement about the quality of education, inspectors will consider the extent to which schools are equipping pupils with the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed.
Our understanding of ‘knowledge and cultural capital is derived from the following wording in the national curriculum: ‘It is the essential knowledge that pupils need to be educated citizens, introducing them to the best that has been thought and said and helping to engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement.’ “
What does Cultural Capital mean at Woodlands Primary School?
Every child and family joining our setting will have knowledge and experiences to link to their culture and broader family. This might include languages, beliefs, traditions, cultural and family heritage, interests, travel and work.
Cultural capital is the accumulation of knowledge, behaviours, and skills that a child can draw upon, demonstrating their cultural awareness, knowledge, and competence; it is one of the critical ingredients children will draw upon to be successful in society, their career, and the world of work.
Cultural capital gives power and helps children achieve goals, become successful, and rise on the social ladder without necessarily having wealth or financial means. Cultural capital has assets that give children the desire to aspire and achieve social mobility, whatever their starting point.
Children benefit from a flexible curriculum at Woodlands Primary School that builds on their understanding and knowledge. We believe that exposure to cultures and situations in which the children might not have previous experiences is paramount to their ongoing successes.
Gradually widening children’s experiences as they progress through school provides rich and engaging learning across the curriculum. We plan carefully for children to have progressively richer experiences in the nursery and beyond. These include trips to the local park, and shops and visits to places of worship, museums, sports and music venues, to name a few.
Click here to see the brilliant trips we have planned for the children at Woodlands