Cambridge Primary is an international education programme, typically for young learners aged 5 to 11 years and is used in primary schools around the world. It develops young learners who are confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged.

Cambridge Primary develops skills in English, mathematics, science, Cambridge Global Perspectives and ICT Starters. The curriculum is flexible with clear learning objectives.

Cambridge Primary teachers benefit from our teaching and learning resources, including a secure support website, teacher guides and training.

Cambridge Primary curriculum

There is a Cambridge Primary curriculum framework for each subject – English, English as a second language, mathematics and science – providing a clear teaching structure. Many schools use the integrated assessments to monitor learners’ progress.

English (0844)

Cambridge Primary English enables learners to communicate confidently and effectively and to develop the critical skills to respond to a range of information, media and texts with understanding and enjoyment. Learners who follow this curriculum framework will develop a first language competency in English based on a curriculum designed to be successful in any culture and to promote cross-cultural understanding.

English as a second language (0837)

This curriculum develops learners’ speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in English. It has been developed in conjunction with Cambridge Assessment English and is based on the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), used across the world to map learners’ progress in English.

Mathematics (0845)

The mathematics curriculum framework explores five content areas: number, geometry, measure, handling data and problem solving. This curriculum focuses on principles, patterns, systems, functions and relationships so that learners can apply their mathematical knowledge and develop a holistic understanding of the subject.

Science (0846)

This curriculum framework covers four content areas: scientific enquiry, biology, chemistry and physics. Scientific enquiry is about considering ideas, evaluating evidence, planning, investigating, recording and analysing data. Environmental awareness and some history of science are also part of the curriculum.

Cambridge Global Perspectives (0838)

Cambridge Primary Global Perspectives develops the skills of research, analysis, evaluation, reflection, collaboration and communication. Find out more about how the programme is taught and assessed.

Extending our Cambridge Primary programme

We are delighted to announce that in September 2019 we will be adding four more new subjects to our Cambridge Primary programme.

Art & Design

Cambridge Primary Art & Design enables learners to express themselves whilst experiencing, making and reflecting on art. As they explore the limitless possibilities that art can offer, learners will begin to think like artists. They will welcome challenges, generate and communicate ideas and review and refine their work. Learners who follow this curriculum will embrace art’s potential for voicing things that cannot be captured in words and the links that exist between human feeling and creative output.

Digital Literacy

This curriculum develops learners’ understanding of the digital world. They will develop the skills they need to use digital tools in an informed and effective way. Learners who follow this curriculum will understand how to stay safe but also balance their caution with a celebration of the opportunities that technology can offer.

Music

This curriculum enables learners to broaden their experience and appreciation of music. Learners will explore music as performers, composers and informed listeners. They will make and understand music, discovering it from different cultures, times and places. This curriculum will help learners to cultivate a joy of music as well as developing confidence and leadership and collaboration skills.

Physical Education

This curriculum focuses on developing learners movement skills and establishing healthy patterns for life. It will explore the skills of creativity, collaboration, leadership and responsibility. Learners who follow this curriculum will develop an understanding of movement and appreciation of their health and well-being.

Curriculum frameworks, teacher guides and schemes of work, appropriate for teaching and learning in local and international schools, will be available in September 2019. There will also be online training available from February 2020 to support teachers delivering these subjects.

Cambridge Primary curriculum outlines

Cambridge Primary schools can download full versions of the frameworks from our password protected Cambridge Primary site. An outline of each framework is available to download below.

• Cambridge Primary – English – Curriculum outline (PDF, 1MB)
• Cambridge Primary – English as a second language – Curriculum outline (PDF, 314KB)
• Cambridge Primary – Maths – Curriculum outline (PDF, 876KB)
• Cambridge Primary – Science – Curriculum outline (PDF, 1MB)

The Cambridge Primary curriculum has been mapped against the National curriculum for England. This guide outlines the similarities and differences between them.

Benefits of teaching Cambridge Primary

International curriculum

Cambridge Primary sets clear learning objectives in English sets clear learning objectives in English as a first or second language, mathematics, science and Cambridge Global Perspectives. It focuses on developing knowledge and skills in core subjects which form an excellent foundation for future study.

Flexibility

The programme is flexible: schools can offer any combination of the Cambridge Primary subjects. This means they can use Cambridge Primary while following their school or national curriculum, or offer the entire programme. At each stage, students build on their previous learning – and our syllabus design reflects a ‘spiral’ approach, providing a natural progression throughout the primary years and beyond.

Our assessments

Many schools use the Cambridge Primary testing structure to assess learner performance and report progress to learners and parents. Cambridge Primary uses internationally benchmarked tests, giving parents extra trust in the feedback they receive.

There are two testing options: Cambridge Primary Progression Tests and Cambridge Primary Checkpoint. Cambridge Primary assessments, including Cambridge Primary Checkpoint, provide teachers with an international benchmark to inform their teaching and easily measure learners’ progress over time. They also enable detailed, structured reporting to parents.

Support for schools

A range of support resources is available to help teachers plan and deliver Cambridge Primary in English as a first or second language, mathematics, science and Cambridge Global Perspectives. Resources are also available for Cambridge ICT Starters.

Teachers can access these resources including curriculum frameworks and teacher guides once their school becomes a registered Cambridge school.

Cambridge Primary classroom support

Teaching materials

Teachers benefit from a wide range of support to help plan and deliver Cambridge Primary programme including:

• Curriculum Frameworks – these outline the structure of the curriculum and how learning is organised
• Endorsed resources– high quality resources produced by a range of publishers
• Schemes of work – available for every stage of Cambridge Primary, each Scheme of work contains a suggested medium and long-term plan with suggested teaching and learning activities
• Teacher Guides– provides support in using the curriculum framework to plan and deliver lessons using effective teaching and learning approaches
• Testing and analysis tools– to assess learner performance, manage learning programmes and report progess to students and parents.