Great teaching starts with a great curriculum. But how good is the curriculum across your team or school, and how can this be made even better? Through a focus on principles, pitfalls and practical approaches, this book unpacks these questions. We will start by exploring the relationship between knowledge and skills, including why a ‘knowledge-based, skills-oriented’ curriculum is fundamental to raising attainment for all and closing background-related attainment gaps. Then, we will turn our attention to ‘meta-skills’ – such as critical thinking, problem solving and creativity – and discuss why, counterintuitively, the best way to teach these isn’t to focus on them directly. Finally, we will highlight practical approaches to support the development of a great curriculum in every school.
