Jonathan Barnes 
Positive Pedagogy across the Primary Curriculum 

This book offers a positive approach to thematic cross-curricular teaching. Within a clear focus on humanitarian and inclusive values, it offers guidance on robust learning in the subject disciplines within a set of highly involving themes. Its fundamental aim is the mental, physical, social and intellectual wellbeing of children and their teachers.



Discover how your teaching can support genuine age-appropriate engagement in contemporary and global issues like shared values, anti-racism, social inequalities and environmental concerns. Learn ways of drawing from a wider, inclusive and motivating curriculum without compromising progression in subject-specific learning.



Case studies and clear guidance on planning and assessment offer strong practical advice to support you in setting the foundations for smart, informed and relevant primary school teaching.




Jonathan Barnes is a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at Canterbury Christ Church University and a National Teaching Fellow.

Tabella dei contenuti

Chapter 1: Positive Values In A Rapidly Changing And Diverse World

Chapter 2: Positive Pedagogy – Taking Control Of The Teaching And The Learning Environment Through Reclaiming Teachers’ Values

Chapter 3: Planning And Building Positive Environments For Learning

Chapter 4: Connecting The Humanities – Geography, History, Religious Knowledge, Citizenship And Personal Social, Health And Economic Education

Chapter 5: Connecting The Wordless Disciplines – Art And Design, Drama, Music, Dance, And PE

Chapter 6: Science, Technology, English And Maths In Cross-Curricular Contexts

Chapter 7: Thinking Carefully About The Whole Curriculum

Chapter 8: Embodying Positive Pedagogy In A Diverse UK

Circa l’autore

Jonathan is a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at Canterbury Christ Church University and a National Teaching Fellow.  He has taught and researched for the last 50 years throughout Asia and Africa and in primary, secondary schools and prisons in England. He was a primary head teacher between 1992 and 2000. Since then he has combined work in primary Initial Teacher Education with continuing research and teaching in the arts and humanities in primary and nursery education.  His books and published research on Cross-Curricular Learning, teachers’ values and diversity are widely used throughout teacher education. In 2017 with peace activist Alex Ntung Jonathan founded Education4diversity, a charity dedicated to humanising, valuing and celebrating diversity through dialogue and education.