Education providers and schools have an abundance of resources available to shape and provide effective learning experiences. Two widely recognised options include Twinkl and the thematic whole-school primary curriculum model.
Twinkl is an online educational platform that provides teaching resources, learning materials, and tools for educators, parents, and learners. It offers a wide range of resources such as lesson plans, worksheets, PowerPoints, activities, and games tailored for different age groups, subjects, and educational needs. Twinkl is widely used in schools and at home to support teaching and learning, and it caters to various curriculums, including the National Curriculum for England.
A whole-school thematic primary curriculum is an approach that means all year groups and subjects are unified under overarching themes that guide teaching and learning. These themes serve as a central thread connecting different subjects such as science, geography and art. The aim is to create a more engaging, immersive, and meaningful learning experience, where pupils can see the links between disciplines and develop a deeper understanding of key concepts.
This article compares these two approaches in terms of structure, flexibility, engagement, and alignment with educational goals.
1. Structure and Organisation
Twinkl: Twinkl is like an all-you-can-eat buffet of teaching resources, from lesson plans, worksheets, and PowerPoints, to assessments, posters and much, much more. Need a worksheet on dinosaurs? They’ve got fifty! Looking for a PowerPoint about the water cycle? Take your pick.
Twinkl is primarily designed as a support tool for educators to create or supplement their own curriculum.
Thematic Whole-School Curriculum: This is more like a Michelin-starred tasting menu. A cohesive thematic curriculum is built around a central framework of interconnected topics and themes, ensuring continuity and progression across year groups. Themes are designed to link subjects meaningfully, allowing the learning to flow. Everything is carefully planned, coordinated, and builds on the previous year group. The themes weave ideas together beautifully
Comparison: Twinkl excels in providing a vast array of materials that teachers can pick and choose from. Put simply, Twinkl is great if you like to mix and match or just wing it sometimes. It lacks the integrated framework that a thematic curriculum offers, ensuring consistency and coherence across the entire school, aligning with long-term goals. Thematic curriculums are for those who want structure and consistency.
Basically, it’s the difference between grabbing snacks from a vending machine and sitting down to a carefully planned and prepared three-course meal!
2. Flexibility
Twinkl: Oh, Twinkl’s got flexibility in spades. It’s the yoga teacher of teaching resources. Need a quick fix for tomorrow’s lesson? Boom, sorted. Want to completely redo your plan at 10 p.m.? Sure, why not?
Thematic Whole-School Curriculum: A thematic curriculum provides less immediate flexibility, as it follows a design and structure. A bit like IKEA furniture, it comes with instructions, and you’re highly advised to follow them. If you stray too far, things might just fall apart. However, it allows for localised adaptation, enabling schools to incorporate community-specific elements or address unique school-wide priorities.
Comparison: Twinkl’s adaptability makes it an excellent tool for individual teachers who want to be the captain of their own classroom ship. In contrast, a thematic curriculum is more like a cruise liner – your itinerary is mapped out and you enjoy the ride, with more time to take in the panoramic view.
3. Engagement and Depth of Learning
Twinkl: Twinkl resources are varied and visually appealing, often designed to engage students in specific activities or lessons. However, due to the piecemeal nature of the resources, they often lack the depth and connections needed for sustained learning. Connecting one worksheet on volcanoes to a broader learning journey? That’s the rub.
Thematic Whole-School Curriculum: Picture this: every subject, from history to art, ties into a single theme. Pupils become immersed in a learning adventure that feels more like a Netflix series than a string of disconnected programmes. The thematic approach integrates subjects, encouraging deeper exploration and fostering connections between different areas of learning.
Comparison: Twinkl is your go-to for quick wins and keeping the plates spinning. A thematic curriculum, however, delivers that long-term payoff where children start connecting the dots and dropping facts on holiday that make their parents go, “Whoa, where did you learn that?” (Ask us for some real-life examples of this!)
4. Alignment with Educational Goals
Twinkl: Twinkl’s resources align with national curriculums and provide teachers with the tools to meet learning objectives. Twinkl’s resources align with national curriculums, but to use the analogy again, it’s like assembling IKEA furniture without the instructions (but at least you have a lot of parts).
Thematic Whole-School Curriculum: This is the headteacher’s equivalent of hiring a contractor. The alignment with educational standards is baked in, and the progression is seamless. You can focus on teaching without worrying if everything’s going to line up in the end. It ensures alignment at both micro and macro levels, reducing the risk of inconsistencies across year groups or subjects.
Comparison: Twinkl gives you the tools, but you’re the architect. Thematic curriculums come pre-designed, ready for you to tweak—all you need to do is make sure everyone sticks to the blueprint.
Conclusion
Twinkl and a cohesive thematic whole-school primary curriculum serve different purposes and audiences. Twinkl is an invaluable resource for individual teachers seeking adaptable, ready-to-use materials. Its flexibility and variety make it an excellent tool for supplementing existing curriculums. On the other hand, a cohesive thematic curriculum is more like a well-oiled machine—smooth, reliable, and designed for the long haul. It provides a structured, interconnected framework that promotes continuity, engagement, and deep learning across the entire school.
If your school is all about teamwork, consistency, and long-term impact, the thematic curriculum might just be your dream come true!
