Curriculum for Wales
A creative, flexible curriculum built around the Four Purposes and the unique spirit of Welsh education
Every child in Wales deserves a curriculum that feels like it was made for them
Welsh education has its own identity. The Curriculum for Wales is a vision for what education should feel like for every child in Wales. A curriculum built around who they are, where they come from and the community they’re part of.
At Cornerstones, we believe a Welsh curriculum should reflect that vision, not resist it. Our curriculum isn’t an English scheme adapted to meet Welsh requirements. It’s a curriculum that embraces the Four Purposes, celebrates Cynefin and gives every Welsh child the rich, connected learning experience they deserve.
A curriculum that genuinely understands Wales
The Cornerstones Welsh primary curriculum covers everything your school is required to teach. But it does much more than that. It gives you the structure, the projects, the resources and the inspiration to embed the Four Purposes and a wealth of cross-curricular skills and knowledge across every year group.
It’s not an off-the-shelf scheme. It’s an adaptable curriculum you can make entirely your own. A curriculum that reflects your school, your community and your children. Including Cynefin, a unique and wonderful part of the Curriculum for Wales that deserves to sit at the heart of what you teach.
Built for Welsh primary schools
The questions Welsh headteachers ask us most often before choosing Cornerstones.
Does it cover everything we're required to teach?
Yes. The Cornerstones curriculum covers all Curriculum for Wales requirements including the Four Purposes, Areas of Learning and Experience, Statements of What Matters, integral skills, the 12 pedagogical principles, Cynefin, cross-curricular skills, LNF/DCF, principles of progression, descriptions of learning and assessment for learning.
Can we make it our own?
Completely. You can use knowledge-rich projects, creative projects or a mix of both. You can include projects and topics from your existing curriculum that your teachers know and love. None of the hard work you've already done on your curriculum goes to waste.
Is an English provider the right choice for a Welsh school?
We understand why you'd ask. The Cornerstones curriculum is built around a pedagogy that aligns directly with the Four Purposes and the 12 pedagogical principles of the Curriculum for Wales. It's not an English curriculum with Welsh content added. It's a curriculum philosophy that happens to be a natural fit for what Welsh education is trying to achieve.
What support do we get?
Every Welsh school gets a dedicated curriculum adviser who takes the time to understand your school's context. We know you already have support through The Hwb and curriculum networks, but our advisers are here alongside that — helping you build your curriculum on Maestro, make any adaptations you need and work through challenges like complex mixed-age classes.
Find out if Cornerstones is right for your Welsh school
Speak to one of our curriculum advisers about your school’s specific context. We’ll show you exactly how Cornerstones works for Welsh schools.
At the beginning of every theme we create 'I wonder' questions with the children by sharing the theme overview from Maestro with them. We revisit these questions every week.
Sarah Rudall
Everything the Curriculum for Wales requires
Here’s a full breakdown of how Cornerstones meets the Curriculum for Wales requirements.
| Curriculum for Wales requirements | Cornerstones |
|---|---|
| The four purposes | |
| Areas of learning and experience | |
| Statements of what matters coverage | |
| Integral skills | |
| 12 Pedagogical principles | |
| Learner involvement | |
| Cynefin | |
| Cross-curricular skills | |
| LNF/DCF | |
| Principles of progression | |
| Descriptions of learning | |
| Progression of skills and knowledge | |
| Assessment for learning |
Projects that excite Welsh children
Every Cornerstones curriculum project is designed to engage, inspire and challenge. Each one follows our four-stage pedagogy, giving children a complete learning journey from curiosity and engagement through to knowledge, application and reflection.
And because the curriculum is fully adaptable, you can localise projects to reflect your school’s community, add your own topics and make it feel entirely your own. Whatever your school needs, we’ll help you build it.
View all projects
A pedagogy that lets children be children
At Cornerstones, we’re passionate about helping schools deliver a curriculum that inspires and engages every learner. Our four-stage pedagogy is built around a rich, child-focused ethos that maps directly to the four purposes Wales has placed at the heart of its national curriculum. Ambitious, capable learners who are healthy and confident, enterprising and creative contributors and ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world.
With a strong focus on knowledge, skills and creativity, it empowers every child to think deeply, ask questions and make meaningful connections across the curriculum and the Areas of Learning and Experience.
Read about our pedagogyPlan, adapt, assess and report all in one digital platform
Maestro is the digital platform built around the Cornerstones Curriculum. Welsh schools use Maestro to plan their curriculum, adapt projects to reflect their local community and Cynefin, assess pupil progress and generate reports for governors and senior leaders.
Everything is connected in one place. When your teachers plan and assess on Maestro, the visibility you need as a leader builds automatically, without adding to anyone’s workload.
Find out more about Maestro
Hear from Welsh schools
Give your Welsh children the curriculum they deserve
An annual licence for Welsh schools starts at £750, including online support from a dedicated curriculum adviser. Book a conversation today and we’ll show you how Cornerstones can work for your school.