Ambitious
Every child encounters rich ideas, powerful vocabulary and meaningful challenge.
King's Cross Academy
An ambitious curriculum, built with purpose.
Our values-led curriculum helps every child build powerful knowledge, develop character, find their voice and understand the world around them.
Every half term begins with a
Big Question
“How can one person change the world?”
Our Curriculum Vision
Knowledge, character and possibility
We believe every child is entitled to an ambitious, inclusive and inspiring curriculum. Learning at KCA is carefully sequenced, rooted in rich knowledge and brought to life through meaningful questions, memorable experiences and purposeful final outcomes.
Inclusive
All pupils are supported to access, remember and use important knowledge.
Connected
Subjects retain their distinct knowledge while contributing to a coherent wider journey.
Purposeful
Every unit leads towards a learning presentation shared with a real audience.
How did we design our curriculum?
Five pillars underpin every decision
Our curriculum was designed from first principles. These five interconnected pillars shape what we teach, how knowledge is organised and the experiences we create for children.
Fundamental skills
Skills that grow year after year
Our Fundamental Skills are explicitly taught, revisited and strengthened as children move through the school. Select a stage to see the expectations children are working towards and the foundations carried forward from the previous year.
Fundamental Skills · Nursery
The starting points for confident learning
Children begin by developing the physical control and confidence needed to communicate meaning through marks and early writing.
At this stage
Building on
Nothing is lost; everything builds. Each stage revisits established expectations while introducing greater accuracy, control and independence.
Download the full progression booklet
The KCA Learning Journey
Every unit builds towards something worth sharing
Children begin with a compelling question, build secure knowledge and skills, and end by presenting their learning to an authentic audience.
Big Question
A meaningful question creates curiosity and gives the unit a clear purpose.
Initial Experience
Texts, objects, visits and experiences draw children into the learning.
Knowledge & Skills
Carefully sequenced teaching helps pupils know more and do more.
Retrieve & Connect
Children revisit prior learning and make connections across the curriculum.
Values in Action
Our values guide how children think, collaborate and respond to challenge.
Learning Presentation
Every unit culminates in a purposeful final outcome shared through performance, exhibition, publication, debate or presentation.
Values-led learning
Our characters travel through the curriculum
The six KCA values are not an add-on. They shape the choices, discussions and learning behaviours within every unit.
Courage
Respect
Kindness
Integrity
Endurance
Aspiration
Explore the curriculum
Choose a year group
See the six big questions, final learning presentations and curriculum map for each year.
Nursery Curriculum
Curriculum map coming soon
A playful beginning to the KCA learning journey
Children learn through purposeful play, rich talk, stories, relationships and first-hand experiences.
The KCA experience library
Experiences that shape every child
A curriculum is remembered through the moments that inspire, challenge and excite. Explore the performances, festivals, workshops, visits and trips that bring learning to life at KCA.
Every experience is deliberately chosen to strengthen knowledge, develop character and create memories that last a lifetime.
Explore our year groupsSubject Curriculums
Explore each subject in detail
Each subject area will include its intent, progression, end points and downloadable curriculum documentation.
Learning presentations
Learning is remembered when it is shared
Across the school, children conclude units through meaningful outcomes: exhibitions, performances, speeches, films, publications, debates and showcases.
See the journey by year
ExhibitionPerformancePublicationDebateFilmShowcase