Cwricwlwm statement
The tabs within the Cwricwlwm statement share the various aspects of purposes and principles which Welsh Government suggest should form the guidance supporting schools to "develop a vision" of their own bespoke curriculum which meets the requirements of the Curriculum for Wales 2022. Before designing your curriculum, it can be useful to reflect on these underlying principles and purpose while considering your school's own context. The Cwricwlwm Statement tool can be used as a framework to stimulate discussion and achieve consensus around this.
When the document has been completed, click Preview to see the completed version, then Save. The document can then be downloaded and used as a school (private) or published document. Schools may wish to review this document annually.Our school and the Four purposes
Welsh Government suggests that the Four Purposes should be "the starting point and aspiration for schools' curriculum design" and that "In developing their vision for their curriculum, schools and practitioners should consider what the four purposes mean for their learners and how their curriculum will support their learners to realise them. Their vision – and the four purposes more broadly – should then guide the process of curriculum and assessment design. This will include developing their approach to curriculum design decisions across the whole school." (Source: Hwb.gov.wales )
This section is for recording the broad set of principles which help develop a common understanding of the purpose and intent of your curriculum using the statements of the Four Purposes as provided by Welsh Government. Principles in this section can go beyond the academic and reflect children’s intellectual and personal development. Add text into the box to describe your school's context and how this may reflect the approach to the Four Purposes, making your curriculum bespoke to your setting.
The page can show the school’s logo (click the Browse button to select a file) and Mission Statement (enter text in the box).
Once completed, the document can be published on the school’s website (click the Published option at the bottom of the page).
Questions that could be discussed include:
- How does our school’s context, ethos, faith and pupil profile affect our curriculum values and aims?
- Are there any barriers to learning for our pupils and how should our curriculum reflect these?
- What are our key beliefs about the nature of our curriculum offer? What do we aim to achieve?
- Are there any specific approaches or curriculum organisational factors that influence our curriculum?
- What characteristics do we believe makes an effective, ambitious and engaging curriculum for our pupils?
Skills integral to the four purposes
This tab lists and describes the integral skills underpinning the Four Purposes as provided by Welsh Government (source: Hwb.gov.wales ).
The text box at the bottom of the page allows for a school to add comments relating to their specific context.
The text can be previewed by clicking the Preview button.
12 pedagogical principles
This tab summarises the twelve pedagogical principles which Welsh Government advise should underpin a schools' curriculum design (source: Hwb.gov.wales ).
The text box at the bottom of the page allows for a school to add comments relating to their specific context.
The text can be previewed by clicking the Preview button.
Learner involvement
This tab refers to the importance of learner involvement as an aspect of 'implementation and practical consideration' through the 'Co-construction' element of curriculum design. (source: Hwb.gov.wales ).
The text box at the bottom of the page allows for a school to add comments relating to their specific context.
The text can be previewed by clicking the Preview button.
Cross-curricular skills
This tab refers to the skills within the Literacy/Numeracy and Digital Competence frameworks as referenced by Welsh Government (source: Hwb.gov.wales )
The text box at the bottom of the page allows for a school to add comments relating to their specific context.
The text can be previewed by clicking the Preview button.
Principles of progression
This tab provides the five principles of progression which should underpin progression across all Areas of Learning as suggested by Welsh Government (source: Hwb.gov.wales )
The text box at the bottom of the page allows for a school to add comments relating to their specific context.
The text can be previewed by clicking the Preview button.
Experiences editor
This tab is to record the types and frequency of enrichment activities planned for pupils. It allows schools to ensure a breadth of different types of activity, to plan for equality of opportunity with regards to frequency of activities, to match the timing and type of activities with planned projects. It also allows for activities to be budgeted for.
Types of activity can be matched to the Memorable Experiences outlined in projects or to specific lessons or required skills and knowledge contained within them.
Rows can be renamed, re-ordered or deleted. New rows can be added by clicking the blue + symbol at the bottom of the page. The number of sessions can be increased or decreased by using the drop-down symbols.
Questions which could be discussed include:
- What types of enrichment activities do we believe are important for our pupils at each stage of their school experience?
- Is there an equal/appropriate distribution of enrichment across the school?
- Are we providing opportunities to develop cultural capital for our pupils?
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