Cross-Curricular Skills

Literacy, numeracy and digital competence are mandatory within Curriculum for Wales as the essential bedrock to all learning, lifelong skills and to realise the four purposes. As learners deepen their understanding and become competent in their use of these skills they access and broaden knowledge within AoLEs and across the curriculum whilst developing twenty-first century skills.

Schools must design and deliver an authentic curriculum which enables learners to develop competence and capability in these skills and, where there are opportunities, to extend and apply them across all Areas.

Key principles

• The three mandatory cross-curricular skills of literacy, numeracy and digital competence must be embedded and developed across all areas of learning and experience to enable learners to access the whole curriculum and make the most of future opportunities.

• Authentic and meaningful contexts provide the vehicle for mastery of the literacy, numeracy and digital skills that will help learners to deepen their understanding and become confident in their use of the skills across the curriculum.

• The curriculum is no longer a set of separate individual subjects but a holistic tapestry of learning where the concepts, skills and knowledge are interwoven alongside the cross-curricular skills into the fabric of everyday school life.

• A whole-school approach for the teaching of literacy, numeracy and digital skills across the curriculum is essential so that there is a consistent, shared approach.

• All members of the school community have a shared understanding as to why the cross-curricular skills are fundamental to learners realising the four purposes and enhancing their life opportunities.