At Backworth Park Primary School, our aim is for our children to join us on a learning journey, which will equip them for their future. We want our children to leave us at Year 6 with a range of skills, deep knowledge, a love of learning and ambition.

Cultural capital is the essential knowledge that children need to prepare them for their future success. It is about giving children the best possible start to their early education.

The term ‘cultural capital’ is not new. It is a complex theory that comes originally from the field of sociology, which involves the study of society, including relationships, social interactions and culture. It is important to recognise that everyone has cultural capital - knowledge, skills and behaviours - and that these accumulate over time through many different experiences and opportunities. Cultural capital is understood to contribute to success in life, for example, being able to perform well in school, knowing how to talk in different social groups or societies, accessing higher education and being successful in work or a career.

Cultural Capital is not something that is ‘given’ or ‘taught’. It is about culture, language, traditions and experiences. At Backworth Park, we want to celebrate the uniqueness of us all and share our differences and individualism. It is beyond the curriculum.

We have created Cultural Capital Overviews for each individual year groups. These include all the aspects of Cultural Capital, which researchers have evidenced enrich children’s knowledge and understanding and will equip and prepare them for their futures. Some aspects are covered in our curriculum, other aspects are explored in assemblies, incidental conversations and daily life at school. Other aspects can be discovered at home through experiences and conversations, especially when visiting places or on trips.

Please see Cultural Capital overviews for each individual year group from Year 1 onwards.