Cultural Capital - What is it?
Cultural capital refers to the social and cultural knowledge, skills, and attitudes that a person possesses and that can be used to navigate society successfully. Primary schools in the UK have a responsibility to ensure that their pupils continually add to their cultural capital by providing a range of experiences, knowledge, and skills that will help them to thrive in life.
Here are some examples of how Kennington ensures that pupils are continually adding to their cultural capital:
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Curriculum: The curriculum is designed to provide pupils with a broad range of subjects and experiences that will help them develop their cultural capital. At Kennington, subjects such as history, geography, and literature provide pupils with knowledge about the world around them and the different cultures that exist. The arts, including music, drama, and art, can also help pupils develop cultural awareness and appreciation.
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Trips and visits: Primary schools often organise trips and visits to cultural institutions such as museums, galleries, and theatres. These experiences provide pupils with opportunities to see and learn about different aspects of culture that they may not have encountered before. For example, a visit to a museum might expose pupils to a particular period in history or a scientific concept they hadn't come across before.
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Extra-curricular activities: Kennington offers extra-curricular activities that allow pupils to explore different aspects of culture in more depth. For example, a school might offer a drama club or a choir, giving pupils the chance to develop their creative and performance skills.
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Diversity and inclusion: Primary schools strive to create an inclusive and diverse environment where pupils can learn about different cultures and traditions. At Kennington we celebrate cultural festivals and events, and incorporate different perspectives into the curriculum. For example, a school might explore the history and traditions of Black History Month, or teach pupils about Diwali or Eid.
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Values and attitudes: Schools may also focus on developing values and attitudes that will help pupils succeed in life. At Kennington we teach our children respect, politeness perseverance, resilience, excellence, creativity and teamwork. All of which can help them to develop their cultural awareness and appreciation.
As a school, we play an important role in helping pupils to develop their cultural capital. By providing a broad range of experiences, knowledge, and skills, schools can equip pupils with the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly diverse and complex world. Please see the gallery below for examples of cultural capital gains at Kennington.
Cultural Capital Across The Years
