Foundational Knowledge & Skills
Foundational knowledge is not simply about academic success; it is an expression of human dignity. By ensuring that every pupil can read confidently, communicate clearly, write effectively and use mathematics fluently, we give young people the knowledge, confidence and opportunity to access the curriculum, participate fully in society and shape their own future.
Literacy and numeracy are dignity.
Catholic education enables young people to grow in knowledge, meaning, justice and hope. Inspired by the Church's mission and the legacy of Saint Joseph Calasanz, our commitment to foundational knowledge ensures that every child is given the tools they need to flourish through learning.
Four essential foundations
Choose Reading, Writing, Oracy or Maths & Numeracy to see progression across Years 7, 8 and 9, or go directly to the supporting toolkit.
Reading
Developing the fluency, vocabulary, comprehension and disciplinary reading skills pupils need to understand increasingly complex texts across the curriculum.
Writing
Developing pupils' ability to communicate knowledge, reasoning and ideas clearly and effectively, with increasing accuracy, control and awareness of purpose and audience.
Oracy
Developing vocabulary and high-quality spoken language so that pupils can think, explain, discuss, question, listen and communicate with confidence.
Maths & Numeracy
Developing the numerical fluency, reasoning, communication and problem-solving skills pupils need to interpret information and access learning across the curriculum.
See the foundations together
View Reading, Writing, Oracy and Maths & Numeracy together for a single year group, giving staff a holistic picture of the foundational knowledge and skills pupils are expected to secure, develop and refine.
Year 7
Securing the foundational knowledge and skills pupils need across Reading, Writing, Oracy and Maths & Numeracy.
View Year 7Year 8
Extending, developing and applying foundational knowledge and skills across the four areas.
View Year 8Year 9
Refining foundational knowledge and skills across the four areas in preparation for increasingly demanding study.
View Year 9From expectations to classroom practice
Staff can explore the framework by foundational knowledge area or by year group. Area pages show progression across Years 7, 8 and 9 and link to detailed teaching guidance, while year-group pages bring all four foundations together in one view.
Why foundational knowledge matters
As pupils move through secondary education, the demands of the curriculum become increasingly complex. Every subject introduces specialist vocabulary, ways of thinking and forms of communication.
Pupils therefore need explicit support to read, write, speak, listen and use mathematics within different disciplines. Without secure foundational knowledge, gaps can widen over time and restrict pupils' ability to make progress across the curriculum.
Secure literacy, oracy and numeracy are therefore not confined to individual subjects. They underpin learning across science, humanities, mathematics and the wider curriculum.
Secure foundational knowledge enables pupils to understand and engage successfully with subject content.
Clear minimum expectations help ensure that every pupil receives the foundational knowledge they need to succeed.
Common expectations make gaps in knowledge easier to identify so that support can be targeted appropriately.
A trust-wide approach provides clarity for pupils and staff across schools, subjects and year groups.
Every subject. Every teacher.
Foundational knowledge is the responsibility of every subject and every teacher. Effective implementation requires a whole-school, whole-curriculum commitment to developing pupils' Reading, Writing, Oracy and Maths & Numeracy within each discipline. The Trust will define clear minimum standards for each year group so that schools have a consistent baseline entitlement for every pupil.
Equipping pupils for success
Our approach to foundational knowledge ensures that all pupils are equipped with the fundamental knowledge and skills required to achieve three key outcomes.
Access the full curriculum
Succeed academically
Progress to further education, employment and life opportunities
A continuous entitlement
Foundational knowledge is not a preliminary stage of learning. It is a continuous entitlement that underpins success throughout secondary education, enabling every pupil to learn with confidence, dignity, hope, freedom and purpose.