--- title: "Cultural Capital" url: "https://harefieldprimaryschool.net/curriculum/curriculum-statements/cultural-capital" school: "Harefield Primary School" --- # Cultural Capital ![](https://harefieldprimaryschool.net/images/CFF9F07DE05FAD703D0E29FCF56B7430.jpg) ### **What does Cultural Capital mean at Harefield Primary School?** **Every child and family** who joins Harefield Primary School has **their own unique knowledge and experiences** that links to **their cultural and wider family**. This might include language, belief, traditions, cultural and family heritage, interest, travel and work. Research shows that when children and families cultures are valued, both a child’s experience of learning and progress can benefit (Husain et al 2018, p.4 and Guzzard, E 2018 in Chalmers, H. and Crisfield, E. 2019). **Cultural Capital is an accumulation of knowledge, experiences, behaviours and skills** that a child can draw upon to be successful within society, careers and in their future lives. This also includes a child’s ability to demonstrate their awareness of other cultures and understanding of people different to themselves. Cultural Capital **helps children achieve goals, become successful and overcome any disadvantages** that they might face. Providing children with **new experiences and knowledge** that **close the gap** between them and their peers support their want and **drive to aspire** and **achieve** social mobility whatever their starting point. Ofsted says “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: Cultural Capital…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**.” (OFSTED 2021 Inspection Handbook part 2 203). At Harefield Primary school, the **children experience a wide and varied curriculum**, which aids **engagement, development and motivation in children**. The curriculum builds on what the children already know and **create curiosity beyond** what the national curriculum creates. We believe that **gradually increasing the children’s experiences** (not only to different cultures but to different situations as well) throughout the school is important to their **ongoing success** and **challenges** them to **think differently** than they did before. Gradually widening **the children’s knowledge** and **experiences** as they progress throughout the school is an important step in providing **rich and engaging learning** across the curriculum. We plan for these experiences across the school to ensure that they are **continuous and progressively richer**. These experiences include trips to the local library, question of faith days, trips to places of celebration and worship, sports, music and drama productions. ![Harefield Primary School](https://files.schudio.com/harefield-primary-school-2/images/logo/logo-white.png) ### Harefield Primary School Yeovil Chase Bitterne Southampton SO18 5NZ 023 8046 3240 ### Quick Links - [Hamwic Education Trust](https://harefieldprimaryschool.net/our-school/hamwic-education-trust) - [Ivy School Dog](https://harefieldprimaryschool.net/our-school/ivy-our-school-dog) - [Admissions](https://harefieldprimaryschool.net/key-information/admissions) - [Ofsted Report](https://harefieldprimaryschool.net/key-information/ofsted) - [School Policies](https://harefieldprimaryschool.net/key-information/policies) ### Useful Links - [Term Dates](https://harefieldprimaryschool.net/parents/term-dates) - [Online Payments](https://harefieldprimaryschool.net/parents/online-payments) - [Pupil Voice](https://harefieldprimaryschool.net/children/pupil-voice) - [Online Safety](https://harefieldprimaryschool.net/children/online-safety) - [Wellbeing](https://harefieldprimaryschool.net/children/wellbeing) ### Social Media - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/) - [X](https://x.com/) - [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/) © Copyright 2026 Harefield Primary School School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://harefieldprimaryschool.net/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)