Cultural Capital at Brookdale
Our Vision for Cultural Capital
Our commitment is to nurture well-rounded, knowledgeable and thoughtful individuals who are confident to explore the world and shape their futures. We are proud to provide an environment where every child, regardless of background, can access the knowledge, skills, and experiences they need to become educated citizens of tomorrow.
At Brookdale, we are committed to providing our children with a rich curriculum that supports the development of cultural capital. We understand cultural capital to be:
“The essential knowledge that pupils need to be educated citizens. It is the accumulation of knowledge, behaviours and skills that a child can draw upon and which supports them to be successful in society, their career and the world of work.”
— Ofsted & DfE
We see cultural capital not as an “add-on” but as a golden thread running through everything we do—equipping pupils with a well-rounded set of experiences and knowledge that prepares them for life beyond primary school.
- Knowledge and Understanding of the World
We ensure pupils develop a deep and broad understanding of the world through first-hand experiences that complement their learning across the curriculum:
- Curriculum-rich trips to Liverpool Museum, Catalyst Science Discovery Centre, Hilbre Island, Philharmonic Hall, and the Walker Art Gallery deepen learning in history, geography, science, and the arts.
- Community engagement activities include visits to local churches, letter-writing and card-delivery projects to local care homes, and participation in litter picks, fostering a sense of citizenship and social responsibility.
- Our pupils also take part in cross-school events such as debating and poetry opportunities which offers opportunities for shared cultural experiences beyond their immediate school community.
- An annual careers fair was established in 2025-26 to promote careers-focused learning
- Social Confidence and Oracy
Developing children’s ability to communicate confidently and collaborate effectively is central to our curriculum:
- Regular opportunities for public speaking include assemblies, reading aloud in lessons, and leading presentations.
- All children participate in performance opportunities throughout their school journey:
- o Christmas Services
- o Year 5/6 Production
- o Year 6 Leavers’ Assembly
- o First Access music concerts
- o Through roles such as School Council representatives, Wellbeing Ambassadors, Reading Ambassadors, Eco Council and Values Ambassadors, pupils regularly present ideas, lead discussions and represent peers' voices.
- Cultural and Artistic Appreciation
We believe all children should be exposed to high-quality arts and cultural experiences:
- Children learn an instrument during their time at Brookdale—currently, all Year 4 pupils receive weekly ukulele lessons in the Autumn Term.
- Our broad art curriculum encourages exploration of different cultures, artists and styles.
- We enrich the curriculum with visits to galleries and performances.
- Reading and texts are selected with cultural diversity and inclusion in mind, allowing children to appreciate experiences different from their own.
- Resilience, Independence and Wellbeing
Our wide range of extracurricular, physical and outdoor learning experiences supports the development of resilience and independence:
- Pupils attend two residential trips (Year 4 & Year 6), developing problem-solving, teamwork and self-reliance.
- A variety of sports competitions and festivals (both within and outside of school) promote team spirit, healthy competition and perseverance.
- We promote pupil wellbeing through clubs, quiet spaces at events, and supportive transition activities, particularly in Year F2 and Year 6.
- Leadership and Agency
We provide purposeful leadership roles to help children develop a sense of ownership, voice and responsibility within our school:
- Children apply and are elected to a variety of pupil leadership roles:
- Values Ambassadors
- Eco Council
- School Council
- Pupils lead and take ownership of initiatives such as:
- Enterprise Week fundraising activities
- Christmas Fair, where children run stalls and games
- Assemblies linked to school values or global events
- Through these roles, pupils develop accountability, time management, decision-making, and teamwork.
- Love of Reading and Literacy for Life
We foster a reading culture that supports imagination, empathy, and lifelong learning:
- Children are immersed in high-quality texts from a wide range of genres, time periods and cultures, with a well-resourced school library and class libraries.
- Events and initiatives include:
- o World Book Day (WBD) celebrations
- o Sponsored Reads to raise money for reading resources
- o Book fairs
- o Reading aloud to an adult, bedtime story initiatives, and reading challenges supported by the local library help foster reading enjoyment at home and school.
Throughout your time at Brookdale, you will have the opportunity to: