Curriculum Design
We believe that a high quality curriculum is the foundation for success in learning and in life. We define the curriculum to be all the planned experiences that happen in school and through the school. This includes the pedagogy that is associated with implementing the curriculum effectively in order to reach agreed aims.
Our work in this area is undertaken in association with The Curriculum Foundation, who are considered to be world leaders in curriculum development.
Our work includes:
A review of curriculum intent;
The development of strategies for effective curriculum implementation;
A review of curriculum impact and related approaches to assessment;
Developing a competency-based curriculum.
Our experience and research has shown us that curriculum aims are achieved as a result of a holistic approach.
Skills for life such as communication, creativity and cooperation should be developed in increasingly complex contexts.
This approach can be illustrated using the tree model used by The Curriculum Foundation.
- The leaves of the tree are key pieces of knowledge which come from major ’branches’ of learning.
- The roots of the tree are generic skills for learning and for life, such as communication, creativity and resilience, through which knowledge can be transformed into understanding.
- The sunshine represents your school values and principles which breathe life into your curriculum, enabling it to grow stronger.
- The soil within which your tree is planted represents your school context. Trying to deliver a curriculum that has been developed for a different context will not enable children to reach the intended curriculum aims.
- The tree trunk represents quality learning experiences that bring together knowledge and skills for life.

Examples of our work
Advanced Skills Teacher for Sustainability
York City CouncilOur lead consultant, Victoria Pendry, acquired Advanced Skills teacher status. Working with partners across North Yorkshire, she ensured that schools had access to quality resources to support them gain Eco School status, as well as other key aspects of related curriculum policy, strategy and practice.
Resource for Schools. Global Learning in Maths
PearsonIn support of the The Global Learning Programme, we designed a series of maths lessons for upper primary aged pupils and their teachers in order to explore the use of global data as a rich context for teaching and learning in mathematics.
Schools transition project. From Bean to Bar.
NestléUKDesigned a cross-curricular transition project for years 6 and 7, using chocolate and Fair Trade as the context for learning.
Education for Sustainable Development workshop presentation
TEESNET conference 2017Delivered a workshop, ‘We’ve go the Whole world in our hands’, to illustrate approaches to ensuring development education lies at the heart of curriculum design.
Conference paper presentation. The Sustainable Development Goals in South Sudan
The Education and Development Forum, UKFEITPresented a paper as part of this international conferenceto illustrate the way we have worked with the Curriculum Foundation to embed sustainable development as a cross-cutting issue through the new curriculum for South Sudan.
World Class Curriculum paper presentation
London International Conference on EducationPresentation at LICE 2017 outlining aspects of the World Class Curriculum.
Teacher’s Curriculum Implementation Guide for the Zambia Education Curriculum Framework
DFID UK, Ministry of Education ZambiaIn line with the revised curriculum, we produced exemplar activities aimed at supporting teachers to deepen their understanding of key features of the revised curriculum.
Poetry on a Plate and Poetreein schools
Anneliese Emmans Dean & York Food Festival, UKCross-curricular schools resource, Water Explorers
Global Action PlanIn association with Global Action Plan, we designed and delivered teaching and learning activities aimed at engaging schools and their communities in Water Conservation across 11 countries.
York Minster Teaching and Learning Review
In association with Innovate Educate, review and analyse the pre and post learning offer at York Minster. Research and report on opportunities for resource development in relation to local and national influencers on schools and learning.
Heritage learning projects
Innovate Educate, UKIn association with Innovate Educate, we developed teaching and learning resources aimed at connecting schools and families to the rich heritage of their local area. These projects include: Heart of Wakefield, Wakefield Council; International Bomber Command, Lincoln; A Route to the Hills, Malvern Hill District Council; Learning Review, York Minster.
York Edible Schools
Edible York, UKCreated York Edible Schools, a programme aimed at helping schools to embrace the opportunities that growing food presents for teaching and learning across the curriculum.
Schools maths programme, Energy Heroes
Northern Powergrid, UKDesigned Energy Heroes, a teaching and learning programme for year 5 pupils, in association with Northern Powergrid,aimed at improving mathematics and deepening understanding of climate change and energy conservation.
Evaluation Toolkit for Schools
OxfamDesigned activities and resources to support schools to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching and learning through the Everyone Counts programme.
‘Embracing student competencies’ workshop presentation
TEESNet conference 2016Delivered a workshop aimed at illustrating features of a competency-based curriculum, including references to recent related research, examples of related curriculum frameworks and reports from business groups relating to employability.
Text Books for South Sudan
Ministry of Education South Sudan; Longhorn and Mountain Top publishers, KenyaWorking alongside two publishers in Kenya to write and design competency-based text books for all core subjects in the new South Sudan curriculum.
Assessment Guidance for South Sudan and Uganda
Ministry of Education South Sudan; National Curriculum Development Centre, UgandaIn line with the revised curriculum, production of training and related guidance documents to illustrate approaches to ongoing, classroom-based assessment, including exemplar materials.
Assessment Policy
Rothwell Primary School, Leeds City Council, UKReview and redesign assessment policy and strategy for Foundation Subjects. Development of exemplar teaching and learning materials in support of a greater focus on formative assessment.
Curriculum Framework Workshop
Ebor Academy Trust, UKWe supported the Trust to explore and evaluate features of a curriculum framework that would embrace their creative curriculum intent.
Curriculum Framework Review and Redesign
Middleton Primary School, Leeds City Council, UKWe supported the school to agree curriculum aims and identify effective pedagogy that will lead to high quality teaching and learning.
London International Conference on Education
LondonPresentation at LICE 2017 to outline aspects of the World Class Curriculum.
New National Curriuclum for South Sudan
Ministry of Education South Sudan, UNICEF South Sudan, Global Partnership for EducationWe worked in partnership to design and make plans to effectively implement and monitor a new National Curriculum for South Sudan, including support for Alternative Education Programmes and text book Quality Assurance.
Teacher’s Curriculum Implementation Guide
ZambiaIn line with the revised curriculum, produce exemplar activities aimed at supporting teachers to deepen their understanding of key features of the revised curriuclum.