What is a primary curriculum?

Melanie Moore

Melanie Moore

Date icon

11/02/2025


An collage of images representing the term Primary Curriculum. Featured is four children in their uniform in class. Hands holding a heart. A pile of folders and a school building.

A primary curriculum is a programme of subjects, content, and learning experiences designed for children in the formative stages of their education. In the UK, this is typically for children aged 4 to 11. It outlines what children should learn in each key stage and year group.  

A primary curriculum consists of core subjects (English, maths and science), foundation subjects (which range from history, geography, art & design, design & technology, music, physical education, computing, religious education and PHSE) and other aspects including Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural Development (SMSC) and Fundamental British Values (FBV).  

In England, most schools follow a National Curriculum set out by the Department of Education (DfE). It is currently a legal requirement for all state-funded primary schools to follow the curriculum set by the DfE, which Ofsted regularly regulates by conducting school inspections. However, due to new regulations introduced by the Labour Party (2025), all schools, including academies (which currently do not have to follow the national curriculum), will be required by law to teach the national curriculum.  

While there is a national curriculum, it remains up to individual primary schools to design a school curriculum that ensures national curriculum coverage. A school must also consider, for example, how they structure, sequence and resource lessons while ensuring their curriculum has both breadth and balance. They must also clearly set out which knowledge and skills children will learn due to their curriculum.  

Schools must be able to clearly show how the sequencing of their curriculum helps all children to make progress, including those children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). To evidence children’s progress, schools must integrate a robust assessment framework and procedures for monitoring and reporting.

Designing a primary school curriculum can be extremely difficult for many primary schools. With the average teacher already working a steady 50–60-hour week, the added burden of curriculum development can be stressful. Increasingly, primary schools are looking for curriculum packages to help them build and shape their curricula. Such packages are often digital, meaning teachers can use them flexibly, adapting and adding content to meet the needs of their school. The best versions of such packages also provide easily accessible, integrated resources and assessment systems, saving teachers and subject leaders further time and money.

At Cornerstones, we provide our schools with everything they need to build a robust and interconnected primary curriculum. The Cornerstones curriculum on Maestro is adaptable, flexible, and customisable, and it also includes integrated resources and a comprehensive assessment and reporting system.

As the new Labour government begins forming a new national curriculum, Cornerstones remains a safe pair of hands for your school curriculum. We’ll be here to ensure your curriculum meets any new requirements and provide you with the tools you need to add your unique take on any content we provide.

If you want to discuss how we can help your school build the best primary curriculum, please enquire today. One of our Curriculum Advisers would be happy to discuss your requirements.  

Glossary 
  • Core subjects – These are considered essential subjects and are the foundation for learning in primary schools in England.  
  • Foundation subject – While important subjects, these are not core subjects. These subjects enrich the educational experience and help develop a wide range of skills for the children. 
  • Key Stage – This refers to a specific stage of education in the National Curriculum, which is divided into distinct phases to ensure children’s learning progresses in a structured way. 
  • Multi-academy trust – A group of academies (state-funded schools independent of local authority control) that work together under a single legal and governance structure. 
  • Ofsted – The official body in England responsible for inspecting and regulating educational institutions, including primary schools. Its primary purpose is to assess the quality of education and care children receive, ensuring that schools meet national standards and provide a safe, effective learning environment. 
  • Department of Education – The government department which oversees and regulates education in England. Its primary role is to ensure that all children and young people receive a high-quality education, whether in primary schools, secondary schools, colleges, or other educational settings. 
  • Fundamental British Values (FBV) – These are principles that primary schools must promote under the Ofsted guidelines. These values aim to help children understand the principles that underpin British society and encourage them to develop as responsible, respectful citizens. 
  • Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural (SMSC) – This framework is used in primary schools to support children’s holistic development beyond academic learning. It aims to prepare children for life by nurturing their character, values, and ability to engage with the world around them. 
  • Assessment  – refers to the process of evaluating children’s progress, understanding, skills, and attainment to inform teaching and support learning. It helps teachers, children, and parents understand how well the children are doing and what they need to do to improve.  
  • Curriculum Adviser – Our team of dedicated advisers who helps primary schools in England develop an understanding of how the Cornerstones Curriculum works. Using their experience in the primary classroom, they can also offer advice when undergoing inspections and how to tailor a curriculum to meet the school’s needs.  
  • Curriculum framework – This structured plan outlines the educational goals, content, and methods for teaching and learning within a primary school. It guides teachers to implement and tailor lessons, ensuring consistency and coherence in what children are taught. 
  • Breadth and balance – Children are exposed to a wide range of subjects, topics, and experiences within a curriculum while ensuring that the curriculum has sufficient depth, coherence, and focus to achieve well-rounded learning.  
  • Knowledge and skills rich – The importance of equipping children with a strong foundation of knowledge while simultaneously developing the skills needed to apply that knowledge effectively. 
  • Sequencing A well-sequenced curriculum ensures that children build on prior knowledge, deepen their understanding, and develop increasingly sophisticated skills as they move through the curriculum.