John Betts Primary School Adverse and Diverse Curriculum

Ensuring children have a broad and balanced view of the world around them is paramount to a child’s education. At John Betts we believe that children should be learning about the multicultural world they live in continuously and throughout the curriculum not just as a standalone aspect. Alongside this we want them to develop an understanding of what people have done in the past that have paved the way for how we live today. Trailblazers, those who have faced adversity including people who are physically impaired, minorities who have defied the beliefs of those around them as well as women who have not been recognised for their achievements due to living in the generation that they did, an example, Lady Elizabeth Wilbraham – an architect who was in fact Sir Christopher Wren’s tutor.

What does this look like?

• When choosing high quality texts in for English where possible we include BAME authors across all year groups.
• Guided Reading books also incorporate people who have faced adversity and this will be addressed as part of the Guided Reading sessions
• Book corners will display key authors including relevant people either who are BAME or have faced adversity
• Across all curriculum areas, where it is significant, children learn about individuals or groups of people who are now recognised and celebrated for their achievements when facing adversity e.g. Jesse Owens, Helen Keller, Hidden Figures. These are identified on Knowledge Organisers and incoporated as part of the topic they are covering.
• Assemblies identify stories of people, or countries that identify people who have overcome racism, sexism and significant barriers to being able to accomplish what their peers could.
• International Day always has a theme that provides children opportunities to learn about people with a range of beliefs, backgrounds and differing cultural dispositions.
• We link what these individuals and groups of people achieved to our school values. The courage they have shown as well as the resilience required and the perseverance it took for them to reach their goals. 
   

The UK is a multicultural place, which means that children often have exposure to a wealth of diverse and cultural backgrounds before they even reach the classroom. At John Betts we celebrate this through all aspects of their learning including cultural capital experiences.