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'Cultural capital’: expanding narrow definitions

'Cultural capital' doesn't have to be limited to culture that's mostly white, middle-class and male. Find out how your school can provide your pupils with cultural capital that celebrates all cultures and values diversity, to prepare them for life in modern Britain.

Last reviewed on 13 July 2022
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 41225
Contents
  1. Cultural capital isn’t just 1 thing
  2. Diversifying cultural capital isn't just about ethnicity
  3. Understand your pupils’ own culture first, and help them to value it
  4. Incorporate and celebrate cultures that aren’t within your school
  5. Your school can still include more traditional interpretations of cultural capital

This article handles the practical things you can expect to see your school leaders do to expand cultural capital - knowing this will help you to monitor it in your school.

Be clear on how to monitor cultural capital (including questions you can ask), and how Ofsted will consider it, in this article.

Cultural capital isn’t just 1 thing

Cultural capital doesn’t just come from British 'high' culture (e.g. trips to the ballet or the opera, or an understanding of Dickens and Shakespeare). It can include experiences, art and knowledge from a variety of cultures, and popular culture (e.g. Indian dance or Nigerian cooking, or an understanding of The Beatles or Stormzy). 

This

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