Fordbridge Community Primary School Cultural Capital

What is cultural capital?

As part of making the judgement about the quality of education, inspectors will consider the extent to which schools are equipping pupils with the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life.
Our understanding of ‘knowledge and cultural capital’ is derived from the following wording in the national curriculum: ‘It is the 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.’

1 - Personal Development

At Fordbridge Community Primary School, personal development is at the heart of our curriculum and whole-school ethos. We recognise that many of our pupils face complex social and economic challenges linked to the high deprivation and crime rates in Chelmsley Wood. To address this, we provide a broad and balanced Personal Development curriculum that supports pupils in becoming confident, compassionate, and resilient individuals. Our approach nurtures spiritual, moral, cultural, mental, and physical growth, enabling pupils to understand their role in both local and global communities. This includes a rich variety of extra-curricular clubs (35 per term) and Flourishing Futures vocational sessions (20 per term), which expose pupils to real-world experiences and skills beyond the classroom. We also offer careers days, work with local employers, and maintain strong family and community partnerships to raise aspirations and broaden horizons for all.

2 - Social Development, including political and current affairs awareness

Our school actively promotes social development through PSHE lessons, assemblies, and community engagement. Pupils are encouraged to develop a sense of responsibility, respect, and resilience in line with our golden values. We embed awareness of current affairs and political issues through bi-weekly assemblies such as “Where in the World” and themed story sessions promoting understanding of protected characteristics and diversity. Our curriculum and enrichment activities ensure pupils understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens. We also celebrate national charity days and participate in campaigns promoting kindness and inclusion. Through these, pupils develop critical awareness and the confidence to engage in social and political discussions relevant to their lives and communities.

3 - Physical Development

We place strong emphasis on physical development to support wellbeing and life skills. Pupils participate in weekly high-quality PE lessons led by specialist coaches, covering a broad range of sports and physical activities in line with the national curriculum. We provide inclusive, progressive, and engaging sessions in multi-sports, gymnastics, and dance. Our extra-curricular provision encourages all pupils to participate in physical activities before, during, and after school, with targeted interventions for inactive children to improve engagement. This inclusive approach promotes cooperation, teamwork, and fairness while helping pupils adopt healthy lifestyles. Participation in sports competitions, including SEND-specific events, further supports confidence and social inclusion.

4 - Spiritual Development

At Fordbridge, spiritual development is fostered through a nurturing and inclusive environment where pupils explore their own beliefs and values with respect and curiosity. We follow the Jigsaw RE scheme (2025). By making sense of beliefs, making connections with beliefs, and understanding the impact on their communities, our children can make personal links and share their views in a respectful and informed way. Working with Jigsaw’s expert professionals, we have researched and designed our curriculum to cover religious and non-religious belief systems in detail, progressively developing a deep understanding of beliefs, traditions, and concepts for different groups of people. Our curriculum and assemblies encourage reflection on the world around them, appreciation of human creativity, and understanding of diverse religious and cultural traditions. We provide opportunities for pupils to engage with big questions about life, identity, and purpose in a safe, supportive setting. Through creative arts, story-telling, and moments of quiet reflection, pupils develop empathy and an awareness of spirituality that enriches their personal growth and interpersonal relationships.

5 - Moral Development

Moral development is integral to our vision of creating responsible young citizens. We teach pupils to understand the difference between right and wrong through explicit values education, reinforced daily by our golden values: Respect, Resilience, Reliability, and Responsibility. Our PSHE curriculum and assemblies address themes such as kindness, fairness, and justice, while programmes like the Ned show support resilience and positive mindset development. Pupils learn to consider the consequences of their actions on others and the wider community. We actively involve pupils in initiatives like kindness cards and volunteering schemes, embedding an ethic of care and social responsibility within the school culture.

6 - Cultural Development

Our approach to cultural development ensures pupils appreciate and celebrate diversity within our local community and beyond. We maintain a curriculum that reflects the rich cultural tapestry of our pupils and exposes them to a wide range of artistic, musical, and literary traditions. Our participation in national awards such as the Equality Silver Mark and SENDIA exemplify our commitment to inclusion and cultural awareness. We offer trips, residential visits, and access to performing arts and STEM enrichment, which broaden pupils’ experiences and foster curiosity. Collaboration with local and national partners, including NEC Group, enhances personalised cultural opportunities such as graduations and community volunteering. Assemblies and curriculum content regularly highlight different cultures and protected characteristics, helping pupils value difference and develop a strong, positive sense of identity.