Developing Primary Subject Knowledge
Beyond Literacy and Numeracy
Edited by:
- Jen Aggleton - The Open University, UK
Series:
Primary Teaching Now
Primary Teaching Now
April 2026 | 416 pages | Learning Matters
Supporting primary teaching students to develop deep subject knowledge in curriculum subjects beyond literacy and numeracy.
Undergraduate students on primary teaching courses have a significant breadth of subject knowledge to cover. Alongside a focus on literacy and numeracy, students must develop subject knowledge across the curriculum. This book:
*Offers both breadth and depth for deep subject knowledge learning.
*Includes both subject knowledge theory and content.
*Brings focused subject exploration from subject experts in explicit subject chapters.
*Enables students to build critical evaluation skills.
*Considers how diversity, equity and inclusion can be woven into the curriculum.
*Explores how curricular are developed, interpreted, and delivered
Undergraduate students on primary teaching courses have a significant breadth of subject knowledge to cover. Alongside a focus on literacy and numeracy, students must develop subject knowledge across the curriculum. This book:
*Offers both breadth and depth for deep subject knowledge learning.
*Includes both subject knowledge theory and content.
*Brings focused subject exploration from subject experts in explicit subject chapters.
*Enables students to build critical evaluation skills.
*Considers how diversity, equity and inclusion can be woven into the curriculum.
*Explores how curricular are developed, interpreted, and delivered
Part 1: Understanding Subject Knowledge
Jen Aggleton
1. Developing subject knowledge: An introduction
Sean Harris & Joanne Stuart
2. Poverty informed primary curriculum
Karan Vickers-Hulse, Malcom Richards, Sarah Whitehouse & Jane Carter
3. Subject knowledge and the anti-racist curriculum
Emma Jones
4. Subject knowledge and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Simon Ripley
5. Effective interactions for subject knowledge development
Part 2: Developing Subject Knowledge
Teresa Smith
6. Art and Design
Rachel Sidoli
7. Citizenship and Ethics
Katherina Farrugia-Kriel & Eilidh Slattery
8. Dance
Claire Hawkins & Gavin Davenport
9. Digital Technologies
Reece Sohdi
10. Drama
Sarah Whitehouse & Emma Thomas
11. Geography
Jane Calcutt
12. Health and Wellbeing
Helen Crawford, Ailsa Fidler & Rebecca Harris
13. History
Elizabeth Malone
14. Languages
Phil Griffith
15. Music
Jordan Wintle
16. Physical Education
Lizzie Yeomans
17. Religious Education
Matt Borg & Marc Porcel
18. Sciences
Catherine Foley, Matthew Knight, Jo Anna Reed Johnson, Philippa Heath & Sarah Marston
19. Sustainability and Climate Change
Part 3: Taking your subject knowledge further
Jen Aggleton
20. Conclusion: the subject knowledge development cycle