Finding the right fit
Canon Sharples Church of England Primary School and Nursery in Wigan has been working with Cornerstones for eight years. The decision to adopt it was not taken quickly. Carrie Kiselis, the school’s Deputy Headteacher, describes a process of careful evaluation before anything was committed.
We'd done a lot of research into Cornerstones before we decided it was the right approach for us. The curriculum's knowledge-rich content was a key driver.
Room to follow children’s thinking
One of the things the team at Canon Sharples were clear about from the start was that they did not want a curriculum that simply handed teachers a script and expected them to follow it. They wanted structure, but they also wanted space to respond to what children were genuinely curious about. Eight years in, that balance still holds.
What we enjoy so much about Cornerstones is that it offers us flexibility. We can incorporate our own ideas and follow any lines of inquiry that have come from the children.
Keeping track of the journey
With a school of 326 children across multiple year groups, knowing where each class is in its learning is not straightforward. Cornerstones’ Maestro digital platform has given teachers at Canon Sharples a way to stay close to that picture without it becoming a burden. Carrie describes how one particular feature has become part of the everyday rhythm of teaching.
The 'lesson taught' feature on Maestro is an invaluable formative tool that teachers find meaningful for their teaching. We can see the journey the children are on, identify what they have achieved and what they need to do next.
The impact on children
After eight years, the question that matters most is whether the curriculum is making a difference to children. At Canon Sharples, the answer shows up in the way children talk about what they are learning. There is a confidence and a depth to it that the team notices again and again.
The children have been so enthused and immersed in the projects and made such good progress across all areas of development. They want to tell you about their learning and do so confidently and knowledgeably.
Summary
Canon Sharples set out eight years ago to build a curriculum that was coherent, knowledge-rich, and genuinely responsive to children. What their experience shows is that those things are not in tension. A well-designed curriculum framework can hold a clear structure and still leave room for teachers to respond to what children bring to their learning.
For any school weighing up a similar decision, the Canon Sharples story is a reassuring one. The investment in research at the start paid off. The curriculum they chose still fits, still works, and still excites the children it was designed for. That kind of longevity is worth looking for.
