What Even Is A Curriculum Driver?
Let's keep this short and sweet.
What is a curriculum driver?
A curriculum driver is a principle that guides the development and delivery of that which is to be learned by the children.
'Principle': a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behaviour or for a chain of reasoning'
Curriculum drivers can also be thought of as foundations - that which we build the whole curriculum on.
Did you know I offer a remote curriculum review service? Curriculum development benefits from an outsider's perspective; my experience and expertise can give you the confidence you need to launch your new curriculum. Find out more and book your review day with me now:
So, what are your fundamental, foundational truths? What is it that you want children to leave your care with? What do you want your curriculum to do for your pupils?
For example, you might want children to have certain characteristics:
Critical Thinkers - critcial thinking becomes a driver
Lifelong Learners - instilling a passion for continuous learning and curiosity becomes a driver
Empathetic - empathy becomes a driver
Effective Communicators - communication becomes a driver
Collaborative, Responsible Citizens, Innovative Thinkers, Resilient, Ethical, Globally Aware... the list could go on
Or you might want them to know certain things, and these could become drivers:
Core Academic Knowledge
Cultural Literacy
Scientific Literacy
Numeracy Skills
Technological Proficiency
Environmental Awareness
Historical Understanding
Civic Knowledge
It could be school values which become drivers:
Respect
Integrity
Excellence
Equity and Inclusion
Responsibility
Collaboration
Creativity
Perseverance
Community Engagement
Wellbeing
Whether its these or other drivers you choose, there are several things to be aware of:
Drivers can end up just being words on a page. To avoid that, make sure that:
The drivers should help you to choose curriculum content (intent)
The drivers should inform pedagogy i.e. how the content is then taught (implementation)
The drivers should be evident in curriculum outcomes (impact)
If you would like Aidan to work with on curriculum development with you and the staff in your organisation - school, academy, MAT or LA - you can get in touch via www.aidansevers.com/services, or by using the contact details on this page. You can use the links below to begin to explore the services we offer:
