What is Cultural Capital?
Cultural capital is the accumulation of knowledge, behaviours, and skills that a pupil can draw upon and which demonstrates their cultural awareness, knowledge and competence; it is one of the key ingredients a pupil will draw upon to be successful in society, their career and the world of work.
- Cultural capital promotes social mobility and success in our stratified society.
- Cultural capital gives a pupil power. It helps them achieve goals, become successful, and rise up the social ladder without necessarily having wealth or financial capital.
- Cultural capital is having assets that give pupils the desire to aspire and achieve social mobility whatever their starting point.
Ofsted define cultural capital as…
“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.’ “
At St Mary’s we know the importance of educating children wholly; we strive to provide experiences that enrich them educationally but also personally, physically, spiritually, morally, socially and culturally.
Personal Development
- Citizenship, Personal, Social and Health education provision
- Growth mindset and Metacognition
- Resilience development strategies
- Activities focused on building self-esteem
- Work to develop confidence
- Mental Health & wellbeing provision
- Transition support
Social Development
- Relationship, Social and Health Education provision
- Citizenship
- Charitable work
- Pupil Voice through School Council, Action Team, Mini Vinnies, Wellbeing Champions and Faith in Action
- Nurture and social groups
- Promotion of healthy lifestyles
- Provisions linked to the school’s accreditation Gold Wellbeing Charter Mark
- Access to pastoral support and counselling
Physical Development
- Healthy Eating promotion
- Anti-bullying and safeguarding strategies
- Wellbeing promotion activities e.g. Five ways to wellbeing
- Extra-curricular activities e.g. Gardening Club
- The celebration of sporting achievement including personal fitness and competitive sport
- Cycling training and bikeability
- Activities available for unstructured time, including lunch and break times
- Outdoor education residential trips
- The curricular programme related to food preparation and nutrition
- Advice & guidance to parents on mental health and wellbeing
- The promotion of walking or cycling to school to reduce road congestion, encourage active travel, improve pupil's health and wellbeing and improve air quality.
Spiritual and Moral Development
- Our Religious Education and Philosophy Curriculum
- Our collective acts of worship and reflection
- Support for the expression of individual faiths
- Inter-faith and faith-specific activities and speakers
- Visits to religious buildings and centres
- School-linking activities, locally, nationally and internationally
- Behaviour policy and restorative framework
- Faith in Action
- Contributions to local and national charitable projects.