How the enquiry approach works

The Curious City approach uses seven themes to steer and give a particular flavour to an enquiry. Each enquiry starts with a question that the children seek to answer. In doing this the children learn different things linked to specified curriculum areas.

The seven themes we use help teachers ensure that a broad range of perspectives and subjects are developed across a year. These themes also help children understand the purpose of the enquiry. This helps create a balance of experiences each and every year and ensures a breadth of experience in every year group.

The seven themes are summarised as:

And these enable our learners to become…

• Scientists who learn about Science
• Theologians who learn about religion and belief
• Historians who learn about History
• Geographers who learn about Geography
• Musicians who learn about Music
• Authors who are expert readers and writers
• Mathematicians who learn about mathematics
• Artists who learn about Art and artists
• Designers and Makers who learn about Design and Technology
• Linguists who learn about using languages to communicate
• Sports people who learn about physical activity

Each knowledge-engaged state symbolises an aspect of the curriculum, helping learners to master both the know of and know how of a subject, not just remember it.

This means we want our learners to be Scientists, not just learn about science.

We also want our learners to discover that they can be an Author, Scientist, Geographer and Philosopher at the same time and that some adults combine these states to become Archaeologists, for instance.

We want our learners to see the interconnection between what they are learning in how this knowledge is applied.