At Welcare, we believe the school curriculum is more than an academic framework—it’s a powerful tool for healing, identity, and emotional growth. For children who’ve experienced trauma, what’s taught in the classroom can either build resilience or reinforce barriers. In this revealing post, we explore 9 shocking truths about the school curriculum, debunk harmful myths, …
School Curriculum Misconceptions Are Everywhere
In the aftermath of recent false claims spreading online, it’s more important than ever to clarify who sets the school curriculum in England. Contrary to widespread misinformation, Ofsted does not control what children learn in school. The Department for Education (DfE) is solely responsible for setting the curriculum. Ofsted’s role is to monitor and inspect how well schools implement it—not to write or change it.
As a child-centered organization, Welcare recognizes the harm that misinformation can cause—particularly to vulnerable children and communities. Creating fear and uncertainty around education systems undermines the trust children need to thrive.
School Curriculum: Who Really Sets It?
The DfE leads curriculum design in collaboration with educators, researchers, and public stakeholders. These frameworks dictate subjects like English, math, and science, but also offer flexibility for schools to tailor content to their learners’ needs. At Welcare, we see this flexibility as essential to a trauma-informed approach: every child is different, and education should reflect that.
Sir Hamid Patel’s recent appointment as interim chair of Ofsted’s board has no impact on what is taught in schools. This misunderstanding has been debunked by multiple educational bodies. The school curriculum remains a national framework created by the government—not individual board members.
School Curriculum and Cultural Panic
Education often sits at the intersection of personal values and public policy. So when misinformation spreads—particularly around cultural or religious identities—it can ignite fear. At Welcare, we work with children of all backgrounds, and we’ve seen how quickly misinformation can fracture confidence and belonging.
The school curriculum is not determined by any one person or religious group. It is built through a careful, regulated process. Spreading cultural panic only increases stigma, which is deeply damaging for children already navigating complex emotional landscapes.
How the School Curriculum Shapes Identity
At Welcare, we know that identity, belonging, and safety are essential to healing. The curriculum plays a role in this. When children see themselves reflected in what they learn—whether through inclusive literature, historical representation, or diverse perspectives—they feel seen. And being seen is often the first step to feeling safe.
That’s why curriculum content matters so much. It isn’t just about meeting standards—it’s about nurturing emotional growth and resilience. It’s about giving children the tools to understand themselves and others in an increasingly complex world.
School Curriculum Flexibility: A Tool for Trauma-Informed Practice
Children impacted by trauma don’t all learn the same way. The national curriculum allows space for individual schools to adapt content to their context, which opens doors to personalized, trauma-sensitive teaching.
At Welcare, we advocate for this kind of responsive education. Whether through smaller class sizes, adjusted lesson plans, or social-emotional support integrated into daily teaching, flexibility helps make school a place of healing—not just learning.
The Hidden Power of Curriculum Design
Effective curriculum design is both an art and a science. It involves structuring content in a way that builds on prior knowledge while being sensitive to a child’s stage of development. For children overcoming adversity, this design must go further—it must build trust, confidence, and stability.
Welcare supports educational professionals in adopting trauma-informed strategies that align with curriculum goals. When the curriculum is used as a tool for healing, it becomes far more than academic. It becomes life-changing.
School Curriculum Controversies: Past and Present
The school curriculum has always been a topic of public debate, but those debates must be grounded in truth. Whether the conversation is about phonics, sex education, or decolonizing the curriculum, we must keep children’s well-being at the center.
We’ve seen firsthand that inclusive, balanced education helps children grow into empathetic, confident adults. Let’s move away from politicized panic and toward informed, child-centered solutions.
School Curriculum and Technology: Healing in a Digital World
Technology is now embedded in every child’s life. Teaching digital literacy, media awareness, and online safety is part of ensuring young people feel empowered—not overwhelmed—by the digital world.
For children who’ve experienced trauma, the digital world can be both a trigger and a lifeline. The school curriculum must help students develop the skills to navigate technology safely and wisely. Welcare supports digital literacy initiatives that protect children and open opportunities for connection, creativity, and learning.
School Curriculum and Mental Health: A Welcare Priority
Mental health is at the heart of Welcare’s therapeutic approach. We applaud the inclusion of well-being, emotional regulation, and healthy relationships within the PSHE curriculum. But we also know that implementation matters just as much as policy.
Embedding mental health education into daily school life—through trained staff, safe spaces, and consistent messaging—helps children feel secure. The school curriculum should be a platform for prevention, not just intervention.
Why Understanding the Curriculum Matters
When parents, carers, and professionals understand how the curriculum works, they can better support the children in their care. At Welcare, we work alongside families to help them navigate these systems and advocate for the support their children need.
Misinformation threatens that support. It creates fear, division, and confusion. By engaging with facts and rejecting harmful narratives, we build safer, stronger environments for children.
Final Thoughts: The School Curriculum Is the Blueprint of a Nation
The school curriculum is not just a policy document. For many of the children we work with, it’s a source of structure, possibility, and hope. It can affirm their identity, support their recovery, and guide their growth.
Welcare remains committed to championing trauma-informed, inclusive education systems that reflect the needs of every child. We call on parents, educators, and policymakers to continue this work—grounded in truth, compassion, and a deep belief in the potential of every young person.
Sources
Reuters – Ofsted’s Board Not Responsible for School Curriculum (2025)
Department for Education (DfE) – National Curriculum Overview
Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) – Commentary from Julie McCulloch
Education Policy Institute – Curriculum Design and Implementation Reports
