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'Cultural capital’: expanding narrow definitions

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 18 July 2024
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 41225
Contents
  1. Broaden 'cultural capital' to encompass all cultures and all art forms
  2. Consider social class, gender, sexuality and ability as well as world cultures
  3. Understand your pupils’ own cultures first, and help them to value them
  4. Incorporate and celebrate cultures that aren’t represented in your school
  5. ‘Traditional’ white European culture is still valid but is only part of the picture

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.

Broaden 'cultural capital' to encompass all cultures and all art forms

‘Cultural capital’ encompasses experiences, art and knowledge from a variety of cultures. Though it can include traditional British 'high' culture (such as watching ballet or opera, and studying Dickens and Shakespeare), it’s important that it goes beyond this.

Your leaders can avoid accidental elitism, or celebrating certain cultural expressions over others, by