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Is the Ofsted report card a barrier to learning in primary schools?
The first tranche of Ofsted reports always gives primary senior leaders something useful: a clearer view of what is being…
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Celebrating Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr: A Festive activity pack for the primary classroom
Ramadan is a special month. During this time, many Muslims fast, which means they do not eat or drink from…
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How to build strong foundation blocks in reading from Early Years to Primary
This World Book Day, we’re thrilled to be giving a free Early Years Story Pack, Up and Down, and a…
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Why our STEAM programme had to be written there and not from afar
Grounding curriculum in real Middle Eastern classrooms and culture Curriculum design becomes much easier and far more meaningful when it’s…
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Oracy and the curriculum review: Why it matters and how to get started
The latest curriculum review has put oracy firmly in the spotlight. Sitting alongside the reading and writing frameworks, a dedicated…
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What does the primary geography national curriculum in England require you to cover?
Geography in primary schools is all about helping children make sense of the world – from their own street to…
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What do you need to cover in the KS1 geography national curriculum? A teacher’s guide
Key Stage 1 Geography is all about helping children make sense of the world – from their own street to…
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What do you need to cover in the KS2 geography national curriculum? A teacher’s guide
Key Stage 2 Geography takes children on a journey from their local area to the far corners of the globe,…
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What does the Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR) mean for subjects in the primary curriculum?
The long-awaited Curriculum and Assessment Review has finally been published, and it is certainly a substantial document. For most primary…
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What the Curriculum and Assessment Review means for Maestro users and why you can feel fully confident moving forward
The long-awaited Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR) has finally landed — a detailed, far-reaching document with implications for every subject…
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What the Curriculum and Assessment Review means for British International Schools and why schools using Cornerstones are already perfectly placed for the changes ahead
The UK’s Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR) has finally been published, bringing with it a clear signal of the direction…
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Bringing the British Primary National Curriculum to Life in International Schools
Across the world, international schools strive to offer a curriculum that is both academically rigorous and deeply relevant to their…
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Evolving with purpose: Maestro’s journey to support real primary practice
By Simon Hickton, former primary Headteacher now CEO of Cornerstones Education One of the great joys and challenges of primary…
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Understanding the history national curriculum for primary schools: What needs to be covered
The history national curriculum requirements for primary schools in England provide children with a strong foundation in understanding the past,…
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What is the new Ofsted inspection toolkit and what does it mean for primary schools?
By Simon Hickton, CEO, Cornerstones Education The new Ofsted inspection toolkit has arrived. For many of us who’ve led, taught,…
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Designing a High-Quality, Ambitious Curriculum for All
By Melanie Moore Ofsted have now released their new inspection framework, which will be used from 10 November 2025. There…
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Why we’re bringing creativity back into our projects
By Dale French As someone who has worked in education for many years, and as a dad of two, I…
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What do you need to cover in the KS2 history national curriculum? A clear guide for primary teachers
Key Stage 2 is where history really starts to unfold in exciting depth. Children move beyond personal and local history…
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What do you need to cover in the KS1 history national curriculum? A practical guide for teachers
Teaching history at Key Stage 1 (KS1) is all about sparking curiosity, building a sense of time and change, and…
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What is a STEAM Curriculum and why does it matter in Primary Schools?
By Melanie Moore – Author and Curriculum Director. Around the world, educators are rethinking how to prepare children for a…
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New History Topics to Rejuvenate Your Curriculum
Looking to refresh your primary history curriculum? Discover four brand-new, half-term projects from Cornerstones that blend creativity, skills and knowledge…
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Rediscover the love of learning. Before it’s too late.
By Melanie Moore – Author and Curriculum Director. I have recently had the privilege of being involved in the All-Party…
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Is it time to review our school curriculum?
As another school year draws to a close, many school and curriculum leaders across the country are asking a familiar…
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How to adapt your curriculum for children with SEND
One of the most frequent questions we’re asked is, ‘How can I adapt my curriculum to help my children with…
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What does the Curriculum and Assessment Review Interim Report tell us about the curriculum changes ahead?
This week the Curriculum and Review group released their Interim Report, but what does it tell us about the changes…
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Generative AI in Primary Education
Generative AI in Primary Education: My take on the recently released policy paper on generative artificial intelligence (AI) in education.…
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How the Cornerstones curriculum is evolving to support primary schools (in the light of the Curriculum and Assessment Review 2025)
Most schools are now aware that there are changes ahead for the curriculum. The Curriculum and Assessment Review group has…
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Ofsted inspections – stuck, secure or strong?
I always try to look for the positives, but sometimes they are hard to find. Another Ofsted ‘consultation’ is upon…
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What is a primary curriculum?
A primary curriculum is a programme of subjects, content, and learning experiences designed for children in the formative stages of…
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The Curriculum and Assessment Review: What we know from attending the curriculum roadshows.
Following my recent blog about the Government Curriculum and Assessment Review, I attended one of the curriculum review roadshows touring…
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Free Chinese New Year Primary Resource Pack
Celebrating Chinese New Year: A Festival of Joy and Renewal Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is…
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Is AI damaging children’s knowledge?
I will be the first to say I am all for technological advancements. They’re exciting, and our children’s future possibilities…
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What is test standardisation and why does it matter to schools?
Over the years I have worked extensively to support schools with pupil assessment, tracking and monitoring. I’ve developed numerous assessment…
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Spreading Christmas cheer with our free Christmas Resource Bundle
Christmas is just around the corner and the festivities may have already started in school. Preparations for EYFS and KS1…
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Getting the most out of your Early Career Teacher (ECT) induction
The Early Career Teacher (ECT) induction is a vital part of your journey into teaching. Formerly known as the Newly…
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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) in primary education
According to the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) Playbook, ‘DEIJ refers to the work of making organisations places that…
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Why a project-based approach to learning can help improve your primary curriculum
A project-based approach to teaching the curriculum is a pedagogical approach where children study units of work set in a…
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How to create and manage a primary home learning curriculum: a step-by-step guide
As the education world increasingly embraces flexible learning models, many parents and carers are opting for home-based education. Designing and…
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The secret to streamlining your weekly planning in the primary classroom
What is weekly planning? In its simplest form, weekly planning is a working document that shows what a teacher is…
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Labour’s curriculum review 2024 – What’s going on?
The Labour Party was elected to government on 4th July 2024. Even before they were elected, it was clear from…
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How to localise your primary curriculum
Whether you create your curriculum from scratch or adopt a published scheme, one crucial element that requires careful consideration from…
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Building a quality curriculum for the early years
With the early years being a key focus on the new government’s education and childcare plans, it’s time to ask,…
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A guide to mixed-age planning for EYFS and KS1
Why do schools have mixed-age classes? Primary schools have many different sizes and class structures – from large, single-form entry…
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How to support teaching and learning in a mixed-age classroom
Have you ever wondered what it is like to lead or teach in a school with mixed-age classes? Planning to…
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How to deliver excellent history lessons
History in primary education History is a powerful foundation subject that is used as a main driver for many class…
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Primary children’s wellbeing in the classroom
In this blog, we highlight the importance of teacher wellbeing and explore ways that happy teachers can help children’s wellbeing.…
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Subject leadership in the primary science curriculum
Science is a crucial subject in the primary curriculum. It helps children to develop an understanding of the natural world…
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Subject leadership in the primary design and technology curriculum
Good subject leadership in primary design and technology ensures an effective curriculum, helps children to learn about the designed world…
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Subject leadership in the primary geography curriculum
Subject leadership in primary schools is essential for an effective curriculum that helps children learn and teachers teach. Moreover, the…
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How to sequence your primary curriculum
A well-sequenced curriculum is one of the top priorities for primary schools in England and central to Ofsted’s quality of…
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How to provide excellent opportunities for early reading
Reading influences every aspect of our daily lives. With our reading confidence determined at an early age, effectively teaching this…
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How to balance knowledge and skills in the primary curriculum
What does it mean to have a good education? Is it a store of useful knowledge or a flexible skillset…
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Developing cultural capital in your primary school
Cultural capital has become an increasingly familiar phrase concerning the curriculum. In this blog, I explain in simple terms the…
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What is pedagogy and why is it important in the primary school?
Melanie Moore, Cornerstones Founder and Curriculum Director, explores the meaning and importance of pedagogy and explains why this is an…
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Teaching Approaches in the Early Years Part 2
In Part 1, we looked at approaches to learning in the early years and showed the importance of finding a…
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Teaching Approaches in the Early Years Part 1
Teaching Approaches in the Early Years Part 1 Ofsted’s focus on curriculum and the changes to the EYFS framework has…
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Curriculum intent for primary schools
Unless you’ve been hiding away for the last few years, you’ll most definitely have heard the phrase ‘curriculum intent’ by…
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Six Steps of Curriculum Design
Designing a curriculum isn’t easy. It is a complicated process that needs to be carefully thought through and involves much…
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What are curriculum principles?
Why do you have the curriculum you have? Why do you make the choices you do? How do your educational…
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What to expect from your Ofsted deep dive
With deep dives now an established part of school inspection, it’s natural to wonder how well the subject you lead…
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The importance of continuous provision in the early years
In this blog, experienced early years adviser and Cornerstones Director, Melanie Moore, discusses why continuous provision is so important for…
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Science is a core subject in the primary curriculum (isn’t it?)
The timetable is a crowded place. Fitting all the subjects of the national curriculum into your weekly or even termly…
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Why subject leadership is crucial to the success of your primary curriculum
Subject leadership is a top priority for most primary schools, especially with the demands of the Ofsted inspection framework (2020).…
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Ofsted’s new inspection framework in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
In the latest Ofsted inspection framework, early years provision is still graded independently. However, comments about the quality of teaching…
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Curriculum principles, purpose and pedagogy – with Jonathan Lear
Caroline talks with Jonathan Lear, award-winning Deputy Headteacher, curriculum adviser and author. They discuss Jonathan’s curriculum development work, his thinking…
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Wellbeing in the primary classroom with Adrian Bethune
Caroline talks to Adrian Bethune, a primary teacher, wellbeing expert and author of the award-winning book Wellbeing in the Primary Classroom:…
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Curriculum intent: big ideas and larger concepts
Caroline talks to Mel Moore, Curriculum Director, about how to successfully thread big ideas or, as Ofsted call them, ‘larger…
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What are knowledge organisers and how can we use them in the primary classroom?
Have you noticed that knowledge organisers have recently made more of an appearance in primary schools? This is undoubtedly due…
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How to develop your subject knowledge (without it costing a fortune)
As a primary teacher, it can feel overwhelming to cover so many different subjects. In one day, you might explain…
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How to achieve Ofsted’s three Is of curriculum
Below is a transcription of a previously existing podcast that has been converted to text for your convenience. In this…
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Why ensuring your teaching resources are best quality is crucial for curriculum success
With the recent attention on reducing workload and the publication of the influential Policy Exchange report, Completing the Revolution, the…
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Fallen Fields – a fully resourced, free project
Teaching children about the First World War
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How connected is your curriculum?
Over the last few editions of The Curriculum, we've explored the importance of curriculum principles and articulating the curriculum design…
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The art of being curious
Are you curious? I guess that you are because being a teacher requires a great deal of curiosity. Being curious…
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Continuous or enhanced provision in the EYFS – What’s the difference?
One of the most searched for early years questions on Google is, ‘What’s the difference between continuous and enhanced provision?’…
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What is a broad and balanced primary curriculum?
A broad and balanced curriculum provides children with the skills, knowledge and understanding they need to develop into well-rounded, informed…
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How much does it cost to develop your primary curriculum?
The real cost of curriculum design As a school leader with a tight budget, finding a cost effective way to…
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