Our Knebworth Curriculum

We believe that all children at Knebworth School are entitled to and deserve a broad, balanced curriculum which celebrates the importance of the whole child and does not deprive children of the essential intellectual, artistic, physical and emotional nourishment they need to develop into well-rounded individuals. At Knebworth School we recognise the importance and integrity of each subject discipline and ensure that each one is specifically taught and regarded with equal value. We firmly believe this is the most consistent way of building on each discipline’s core principles in an honest and purposeful way to ensure the development of our pupils. All children will have the opportunity to develop their whole self through separate curriculum disciplines.

Our role as educators is to pass on essential knowledge to our children. This knowledge has arisen from centuries of learning and allows our children to make sense of the world around them and understand how to improve it. This knowledge opens doors for all our children and has the power to liberate them, enable them to become responsible citizens of the world and make change. Equally, Knebworth School believes that in order to be able to fully utilise and build on this knowledge, children need to develop essential skills. Skills are needed so that any new knowledge can be filtered, examined, clarified and applied. For the children of Knebworth School, we have planned a bespoke curriculum which is coherent, purposeful and builds on cumulative knowledge. This curriculum is streamlined to include a balance of both knowledge and skills which reflects what we believe our children at Knebworth School need to know in order to open up opportunities and be successful learners for life.

It is important to view knowledge as a sort of semantic tree - make sure you understand the fundamental principles i.e. the trunk and big branches before you get into the leaves….or there is nothing for them to hang on to. Elon Musk.

Each Subject leader has carefully and skilfully designed their matrix for each of their subject units which evidences the knowledge (deep roots) and key skills which each child will need to unlock future learning to ensure a deep understanding which will lead to (high aspirations). Each matrix also highlights the essential vocabulary the children need to remember from the unit taught. This vocabulary does not sit alone but builds on prior understanding and links to other curriculum areas so that the children can build their own internal vocabulary web.

The ways of words, of knowing and loving words, is a way to the essence of things, and to the essence of knowing. John Donne.

Knowing more words, understanding what they mean and applying them in different contexts is probably the most important responsibility of every educator and a basic entitlement for every child. Without words there is nothing to hang meaning or link understanding. It is also one of the most important commitments as educators in narrowing the gap and addressing social mobility.

Within each matrix, the subject leader has highlighted the golden nuggets of information. These are essential to understanding the unit and is the minimum requirement for all students, regardless of their background, circumstances or barriers to learning. It is our commitment at Knebworth School that we will strive to ensure that all children have mastered these by the end of the unit. Cross-curricular links are spotlighted throughout each matrix and have been purposefully created as a way to enhance and enrich understanding rather than to confuse and degrade a subject.

To view our Knebworth Curriculum Profile and individual subject matrices please see below.

Each subject leader has also recorded a short summary video to explain the intent, implementation and impact of their subject at Knebworth School. See below for these videos.

To view our year group matrices, please visit the relevant year group page, which can be located under the Curriculum tab.