This commissioned report provides an overview of the evidence underpinning a knowledge-rich curriculum and outlines the key design features and enablers to effectively enact a knowledge-rich curriculum in schools.

A knowledge-rich curriculum is a common feature of educationally high-performing countries and an important step towards achieving Australia’s education goals. It provides the foundation for excellence and equity in the education system by prioritising and explicitly outlining the essential knowledge and related skills students should be taught and develop at each stage of their schooling.

The Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) was commissioned by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) to provide an overview of the evidence regarding a knowledge-rich curriculum. This report also outlines the key design features and enablers to effectively enact a knowledge-rich curriculum in schools and addresses some of the prevailing myths and misconceptions about a knowledge-rich curriculum.


Keywords: curriculum design