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November 21, 2024 Marie Thornby

Designing a Primary School Curriculum

A Comprehensive Guide to Building an Effective and Inclusive Framework with PlanBee

When it comes to shaping the educational journey of primary school students, curriculum design is at the heart of it all. A well-thought-out curriculum not only supports academic achievement but also nurtures students' overall development, including oracy skills, critical thinking, creativity, and social-emotional growth. At PlanBee, we believe that every primary school curriculum should be thoughtfully constructed to meet the needs of all learners, from students with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) to those who need extra support in closing the attainment gap. In this blog, we’ll explore key concepts such as curriculum intent, implementation, and assessment, and how a creative, inclusive curriculum framework can make a real impact on your school community.


What Is Curriculum Design?

Curriculum design is the process of planning and organising the content and structure of what children will learn and how they will be taught. It involves outlining the subjects, topics, learning outcomes, and teaching strategies that will help achieve the broader educational goals set by a school or educational system. A well-designed curriculum creates a cohesive learning journey for children and ensures they meet essential learning milestones.

Importantly, a curriculum is a purposeful selection—it’s not possible to cover everything. Therefore, decisions must be made about what content is most relevant and impactful for students at each stage of their learning. This selective approach ensures that the curriculum is focused, achievable and aligned with the specific needs and aspirations of the learners at your setting, providing them with the tools they need to succeed in the future.


Curriculum Intent: The Foundation of Curriculum Design

Curriculum intent refers to the why behind your curriculum design—what do you want your children to learn and achieve  - and why? It’s essential to have a clear vision of your school’s educational goals and values before you begin the process of creating a curriculum map. The curriculum intent should reflect the aspirations of your school community and be informed by the needs of your students.

Every school is different, shaped by local context, demographics, staffing and funding. For example, if closing the attainment gap is a priority for your school, your curriculum should focus on providing targeted, evidence-based opportunities to support students who are falling behind, drawing on best practices highlighted by think tanks such as the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF). These strategies are backed by research and have been shown to have a positive impact on student outcomes. Similarly, an inclusive curriculum ensures that all students, including those with SEND, receive an engaging and accessible learning experience that meets their individual needs. By tailoring your curriculum to address these priorities, you can ensure that every child is given the best chance to succeed.

teachers discussing curriculum design around a table


Building the Curriculum: Mapping Out Learning

Once you have your curriculum intent in place, it’s time to develop a curriculum map. This tool helps visualise how different subjects and topics will be covered throughout the academic year, allowing you to see the whole picture in a coherent, sequenced manner. Effective curriculum mapping ensures that learning objectives and outcomes are clearly defined, and key concepts are revisited and reinforced over time. This is where the concept of a spiral curriculum comes into play. A spiral curriculum revisits core knowledge and skills at increasing levels of complexity, enabling students to build upon prior learning and deepen their understanding as they progress through their educational journey.

Moreover, curriculum mapping supports cross-curricular learning, encouraging students to make meaningful connections between different subjects. A thematic approach further enhances this by weaving topics together under a unifying theme, creating engaging, integrated learning experiences that allow students to see the relevance and interconnectivity of their studies. By taking a well-planned, sequenced approach, curriculum mapping ensures that students receive a cohesive, dynamic learning experience that builds on foundational skills and knowledge year after year.

a teacher lesson planning at a computer


Curriculum Implementation: Bringing the Vision to Life

Curriculum implementation is about putting the curriculum plan into action. It’s about how teachers deliver the content, employ effective teaching strategies, and assess student progress. With an inclusive curriculum design, teachers can adapt lessons and activities to ensure that every child, regardless of their ability or background, can access the learning.

An important part of curriculum implementation is using assessment to monitor progress. Regular curriculum and assessment reviews help identify if students are meeting the expected learning outcomes and if teaching strategies are effective. Continuous feedback, along with creative teaching techniques, can support both student engagement and achievement.

children working creatively with clay

The Role of Oracy Skills in Curriculum Design

One key area that is often integrated into a primary school curriculum but deserves extra attention is oracy skills—the ability to speak and listen effectively. Oracy is an essential part of learning, enabling students to articulate their thoughts, engage in meaningful discussion, and develop strong interpersonal communication. A curriculum that supports the development of oracy skills fosters critical thinking, boosts student confidence, and improves collaborative learning.

By weaving oracy into your curriculum framework, you empower students to express themselves clearly, listen actively, and participate in productive conversations, which can significantly impact their overall academic performance and social development.

children working collabortively at a desk in a primary classroom

Download our free Oracy framework here


Curriculum Policy: Ensuring Consistency and Quality

A well-defined curriculum policy serves as a guiding document for curriculum design, implementation, and assessment. It provides a consistent approach to teaching and learning, ensuring that all students receive a balanced and comprehensive education. A curriculum policy should outline the principles of curriculum design, including the commitment to inclusive and creative curriculum practices, as well as clear expectations for assessment and achievement.

children working together on a Science experiment


Impact: Measuring Success in the Classroom

At the heart of any curriculum is its impact—how effectively it supports students' growth and learning. Regularly evaluating the curriculum impact allows schools to assess whether their students are achieving the desired learning outcomes and if the curriculum is meeting its intended goals. A strong curriculum framework also addresses the broader needs of students, including closing the attainment gap and ensuring that no child is left behind, especially those with SEND.


PlanBee’s Curriculum Resources for Primary Schools

At PlanBee, we understand the complexities of curriculum design and the importance of building a tailored framework that works for your school.

Our curriculum resources can be used to create a coherent and engaging curriculum that meets the diverse needs of your pupils, offering enjoyable learning experiences and promoting an inclusive learning environment.

We offer two flexible options::

  1. School Subscriptions: Gain full access to all PlanBee resources, including subject Curriculum Packs, Cross-Curricular Topics and individual Schemes of Work. All resources come with detailed lesson plans, teaching slides, assessment tools and resources which offer a range of access points for learners.

  2. Curriculum Packs Only: If you're looking to support your curriculum planning for a single subject, our standalone Curriculum Packs offer thoughtfully-sequenced Schemes of Work from Year 1 to 6 which offer full coverage of the National Curriculum with built-in knowledge and skills progression.

Discover Our Curriculum Solutions


Our Curriculum Aims

At PlanBee, we are driven by a clear vision:

  • For children, our goal is to create relevant and engaging learning experiences that spark curiosity and build confidence.
  • For teachers, we aim to provide well-researched, carefully prepared schemes of work that not only energise educators but are also enjoyable to teach.
  • For schools, we hope to ignite genuine enthusiasm among both staff and students, fostering a positive learning environment that promotes excellent progress and achievement.


PlanBee's Curriculum Principles

Our work is grounded in six core principles that guide the resources and curricula we provide:

PlanBee six core principles
  • Enjoyable: Learning should be fun and engaging, sparking curiosity and a love for learning.
  • Equitable: We ensure all students have access to the same high-quality learning opportunities, regardless of background or ability.
  • Coherent: Our resources are thoughtfully sequenced to build knowledge and skills in a logical, cumulative way.
  • Cohort-relevant: Our resources are relevant to build the knowledge and skills children need today and into the future.
  • Creative: Creativity is at the heart of everything we do, encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving and innovation.
  • Flexible: Our resources are adaptable to the diverse needs of classrooms, allowing teachers to personalise their teaching approach.

These principles ensure that our resources align with the aims of the ongoing Curriculum Review, which seeks to create a broader, richer curriculum that fosters creativity, digital skills, and oracy—skills that are particularly prized by employers in today’s fast-changing world. By integrating these principles into your school’s curriculum design, PlanBee helps ensure that your curriculum not only meets educational standards but also prepares students for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

For more information about our curriculum vision and principles, see ourabout us page.

Filed in: ks1, ks2, lesson planning, pedagogy, teaching ideas, teaching profession
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