Curriculum maps: templates and examples

Understand what curriculum maps are for and how to make sure they're useful. Download and adapt our curriculum map templates to save you the hassle of creating your own, and see examples from other schools.

Last reviewed on 1 April 2025
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 39467
Contents
  1. Ofsted doesn't require you to create curriculum maps
  2. Curriculum maps can be useful for pupils, teachers, parents and carers
  3. Make your curriculum map work for your school
  4. Download our templates 
  5. See examples from other schools
  6. Next steps 

Ofsted doesn't require you to create curriculum maps

Curriculum mapping isn't mentioned in the inspection framework or the inspection handbook

However, Ofsted research suggests that curriculum mapping can help:

  • Identify the extent of knowledge, skills coverage and depth in the curriculum
  • Make sure there is sufficient coverage of the subject over time

You need to demonstrate that your curriculum is:

  • Ambitious
  • Coherently planned
  • Sequenced towards sufficient knowledge and skills, for future learning and/or employment

Curriculum maps can help you do this, but you can also demonstrate this with a list or curriculum intent audit (for primary schools). 

Curriculum maps can be useful for pupils, teachers, parents and carers

Although you're not required to create curriculum maps, they can be beneficial when done the right way for your school (see below for details on this).

Pupils can use them to:

Teachers can use them as a visual way of planning, and