Our Schools Programme Curriculum Links
Our Wollstonecraft Schools programme is delivered in partnership with teachers because we know how important it is to be linked to the national curriculum. Here are four way that it fulfils the required curriculum for KS2 learners:
HISTORY
Mary Wollstonecraft was a political and human rights pioneer, as well as one of the UK’s first feminists - help us share her story with a new generation! We’d love to have your support in ensuring primary school children across the country learn about her struggle, her work and her legacy. We focus on the fight for girls’ and women's education as a key part of our national (and local) history. Our three-session Wollstonecraft School programme covers this part of the curriculum:
a study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066
After our programme you could expand this work by moving on to the suffrage movement, which was inspired by Mary Wollstonecraft’s book A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. We recommend these fantastic resources to help with this work.
Which brings us to…
BRITISH VALUES - A WHOLE SCHOOL APPROACH
The Wollstonecraft Society supports the important work happening in schools to teach and celebrate diversity, democracy and inclusion. Mary Wollstonecraft exemplifies these ideals. Her work goes beyond feminism and education, she also championed the abolition of slavery, she worked to eradicate poverty and she understood the importance of friendships and community.
Our programme supports these elements of the curriculum:
encourage students to accept responsibility for their behaviour, and understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of the school and to society more widely
an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process
an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination
The three-step programme ends in an assembly which invites the whole school to learn about Mary Wollstonecraft and her life, in an engaging and participatory way.
LITERACY AND ENGLISH TEACHING
Our comic book of Mary Wollstonecraft’s life story supports literacy and English teaching by addressing the following parts of the curriculum:
read and discuss an increasingly wide range of fiction, poetry, plays, non-fiction and reference books or textbooks
participate in discussions about books that are read to them and those they can read for themselves, building on their own and others’ ideas and challenging views courteously
Each child also completes their own workbook throughout the programme with written tasks and group discussions.
PSHE
Mary’s life story shows the importance of friendships and relationships, and the support they offer. We learn about the impact of Mary’s father’s abusive behaviour, and sensitively explore her mental health struggles.
Students benefit by exploring the following PSHE requirements:
to recognise that anyone can experience mental ill health; that most difficulties can be resolved with help and support; and the importance of discussing feelings with a trusted adult
to identify the people who love and care for them and what they do to help them feel cared for
that it is important to tell someone (such as their teacher) if something about their family makes them unhappy or worried
to recognise that there are different types of relationships (e.g. friendships, family relationships, romantic relationships, online relationships) and how we benefit from them
If you’d like to discuss this with us further please don’t hesitate to get in touch with education@wollstonecraftsociety.org.