Working alongside
schools to
shape the
future of learning
We believe future skills should be core to every student’s education, from age 5 to 18. That belief has shaped everything we’ve built, from The Critical Curriculum – flexible, week-to-week lessons that work around what you already teach – to our role as teaching and learning partner for the OxfordAQA International GCSE Global Skills Projects.
THE CURRICULUM
One progressive journey across
eight Pillars of Learning
At the heart of everything we do is The Critical Curriculum. Each of its eight pillars has ready-to-teach lessons from ages 5–18, so future skills build as students move through school. Choose the year groups and pillars that suit your school and fit the lessons into your week in the way that works for your teachers and students.
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Entrepreneurship
Building an entrepreneurial mindset that helps students turn their ideas into real action
YEAR 3 · Example lesson
Meet Your First Customer
Students learn how to identify their target customers, create customer profiles and use these insights to design a toy that meets their needs.
There’s often a fear in schools that introducing more skills-based learning means taking something away from academic achievement. But developing these capabilities isn’t separate from academic success; it strengthens learning across the entire curriculum. Giving students opportunities to think critically, solve problems, collaborate and apply their knowledge helps them succeed in every subject, while preparing them for life beyond school. That’s why I believe the work 8billionideas is doing is so important.
BUILT FOR LIFE
8 transferable skills
that run through our curriculum
We believe the skills students develop are just as important as the knowledge they gain. That's why these eight skills run through our curriculum, giving students the opportunity to build on their learning and become more confident using it in different situations.
Critical Thinking
Questioning information and evaluating evidence to form reasoned judgements.
Creative Thinking
Generating ideas and finding ways to improve them.
Problem-Solving
Working through challenges to find and test solutions.
Communication
Expressing ideas clearly and listening to understand others.
Collaboration
Working together while respecting different perspectives.
Resilience
Learning from setbacks and adapting when circumstances change.
Self-Awareness
Understanding your strengths and reflecting on growth.
Decision-Making
Considering options and making informed, responsible choices.
HOW LEARNING WORKS
Students explore, apply, evaluate and create
throughout their learning journey.
01
Explore & Understand
Discover new ideas, ask questions and build an understanding of the world around them.
02
Apply & Practise
Put their learning into practice, develop confidence and strengthen their skills through experience.
03
Analyse & Evaluate
Think critically, consider different perspectives and make informed decisions.
04
Create & Reflect
Develop original ideas, create solutions and reflect on what they've learnt.
A PROGRESSIVE JOURNEY
Progressively building
skills at every stage
See how our four areas of learning develop throughout school, with each stage building on the last to strengthen students’ knowledge, confidence and independence.
Years 1–3
Explore new ideas through curiosity, questioning and observation.
Years 4–6
Ask questions, make connections and explore different perspectives.
Years 7–9
Investigate ideas, question information and consider alternative explanations.
Years 10–11
Examine complex ideas, question assumptions and consider different viewpoints.
Years 12–13
Independently investigate unfamiliar ideas, challenge assumptions and develop deeper understanding.
Years 1–3
Explore new ideas through curiosity, questioning and observation.
Years 4–6
Ask questions, make connections and explore different perspectives.
Years 7–9
Investigate ideas, question information and consider alternative explanations.
Years 10–11
Examine complex ideas, question assumptions and consider different viewpoints.
Years 12–13
Independently investigate unfamiliar ideas, challenge assumptions and develop deeper understanding.
A RECOGNISED QUALIFICATION
The opportunity to turn learning
into a qualification
At secondary level, as the teaching and learning partner for the OxfordAQA International GCSE Global Skills Projects, we help schools give students the opportunity to apply and demonstrate the skills they've developed through The Critical Curriculum.
Foundational learning
Applied learning
Independent learning
Qualification preparation
A recognised destination
International GCSE
Global Skills Projects
A recognised qualification, fully supported from start to finish
OxfordAQA provides the qualification, while we make it easier for schools to deliver through ready-to-teach learning, resources and support.
THE QUALIFICATION
An internationally recognised GCSE qualification
Clear assessment and grading framework
A qualification recognised by schools and universities
8billionideas
THE DELIVERY EXPERIENCE
Ready-to-use lessons and learning resources
A platform to plan, deliver & monitor learning
Year-round Partnership Manager support
Full International GCSE
Project-based learning and assessment
Internally assessed, externally moderated
Qualification & assessment expertise
8billionideas
Teaching, platform & school support
OUR CHAMPION SCHOOLS
FITS YOUR WORLD
Fits into the
curriculum you
already teach.
8billionideas works alongside the subjects and timetable you already have, whichever curriculum you follow – British, IB, American, Indian or another international curriculum. You choose the year groups, pillars and time slots, and our Curriculum Mapping tool will help show where the lessons link to what you already teach.
WORKS ACROSS
CURRICULUMS
BRITISH
IB
AMERICAN
INDIAN
INTERNATIONAL
AND MORE
WORKS ACROSS
CURRICULUMS
BRITISH
IB
AMERICAN
INDIAN
INTERNATIONAL
AND MORE
WORKS ACROSS
CURRICULUMS
BRITISH
IB
AMERICAN
INDIAN
INTERNATIONAL
AND MORE
Frequently asked questions
Not at all. 8billionideas is designed to give schools flexibility over what they introduce and when. You can choose the year groups and Pillars of Learning that are most relevant to your school, whether that's one specific area you want to strengthen or a broader curriculum across multiple year groups. Some schools start with a focused part of the curriculum and build from there, while others take a whole-school approach from the beginning.
We know every school already has a busy curriculum, so 8billionideas doesn't need to sit separately from everything you're already teaching. There are natural connections across the curriculum, from literacy and numeracy to science, art and beyond.
Our Curriculum Mapping page brings those connections to life, showing you where 8billionideas can complement your existing curriculum and how other schools are bringing the two together in practice.
The 8billionideas learning journey is designed for Year 1 through to Year 13, with the content, challenge and learning developing as students progress through school. Rather than students encountering these skills through occasional standalone activities, schools can create a progressive journey that develops with them, from their earliest experiences of ideas, creativity and problem-solving through to increasingly sophisticated real-world projects, careers, entrepreneurship and preparation for life beyond school.
No. We've built the curriculum so your teachers don't have to. Schools receive the learning content, lesson plans, resources and supporting materials needed to deliver each Learning Hub, all brought together through the 8billionideas platform. Teachers can see what they're delivering, what students are developing and what they need for each lesson without having to build a new programme themselves.
We also support your school with implementation, so you're not simply given access to a platform and left to work everything out. The intention is simple: give students brilliant learning experiences without creating another planning burden for teachers.
Our pricing is as flexible as the curriculum itself. Rather than expecting every school to fit into the same package, you can build an approach around your own priorities, choosing the year groups and Pillars of Learning that are right for your students.
That means you can start small, with five programmes from £475 a year, or build a much broader programme across multiple year groups and pillars. There's no need to pay for more than your school needs, and you can always grow your use of the curriculum over time.
Yes. The Global Skills Projects qualification isn't limited to schools following a British or OxfordAQA curriculum. Schools following IB, American, Cambridge, Pearson and other international curricula can offer the qualification too. If your school isn't currently an OxfordAQA centre, that doesn't prevent you from getting started. 8billionideas will support you through the registration process, and OxfordAQA is currently waiving the usual centre registration fee for schools introducing the qualification.
