Cultural Capital Opportunities at Taylor Road Primary School

“Cultural knowledge that serves as currency that helps us navigate culture and alter our experiences and the opportunities available to us.”

Pierre Bourdieu

Every child and family who joins our school will have their own knowledge and experiences that will link to their culture and wider family. This might include: languages, beliefs, traditions, cultural and family heritage, interests, travel and work. We aim to build on what the children already know to make them successful in society, their career and the wider world.

We believe all children have the right to a full breadth of experiences. Our Pledge to the children who attend Taylor Road Primary School is that whilst you attend our school, you will have opportunities to build '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 (Ofsted School Inspection Handbook 2019).’ 

 Alongside this, the most recent Ofsted School Inspection Handbook (April 2024) looks at the extent to which all pupils, particularly disadvantaged pupils, including those with SEND, acquire the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life. 

• The importance of cultural capital in shaping pupils' educational experiences and outcomes should be recognised. Cultural capital encompasses the knowledge, skills, and experiences that individuals acquire through their cultural background and upbringing.
• Ofsted now expects schools to design their curriculums to expose pupils to a wide range of cultural experiences, including literature, arts, history, and traditions from different backgrounds. This broad curriculum helps pupils develop a deeper understanding of the world around them. 

6 areas of cultural capital development

We recognise that there are six key areas of development that are interrelated and contribute to building a child’s cultural capital: