Schools teach more than the subjects on the timetable. The hidden curriculum is everything pupils learn without it being formally taught, such as how to behave, obey and fit in.
What is the hidden curriculum?
The official curriculum is the list of subjects and skills a school plans to teach. The hidden curriculum is different: it is the unwritten lessons pupils absorb from the routines and structure of school. Examples include:
- Being punctual and following a timetable.
- Respecting authority and accepting rules.
- Learning to queue, wait your turn and cooperate.
- Competing with others through tests and rankings.
Functionalists see this positively, as useful preparation for adult life and work. Conflict theorists see it more critically, arguing it trains pupils to obey and to accept inequality without questioning it.
Labelling
Labelling is when teachers (or others) attach a definition to a pupil, such as 'bright', 'lazy', 'trouble' or 'gifted'. Labels are often based on first impressions, appearance, accent or behaviour, and may not be accurate. Once a label sticks, it can change how a pupil is treated day to day.
Two curriculums, running at once
| The official curriculum | The hidden curriculum |
|---|---|
| The subjects and skills a school plans to teach | The unwritten lessons pupils absorb from routines and structure |
| Written down on a timetable | Never stated, but learned all the same |
The same lesson, read two ways
This is where the marks are: name the hidden lesson, then give both interpretations.
| What pupils absorb | Functionalist reading | Conflict reading |
|---|---|---|
| Punctuality and following a timetable | Useful preparation for adult work | Training in obedience |
| Respecting authority and accepting rules | Keeps society orderly | Teaches pupils not to question power |
| Competing through tests and rankings | Prepares for a competitive world | Sorts pupils, and favours some over others |
Official curriculum or hidden curriculum?
- The list of subjects on the timetable
- The skills the school plans to teach
- Learning to queue and wait your turn
- Absorbing that authority should be obeyed
- Being ranked against your classmates
The self-fulfilling prophecy
A self-fulfilling prophecy happens when a prediction comes true simply because people believed it and acted on it. In school it works in steps:
- A teacher labels a pupil (for example, 'not very able').
- The teacher treats the pupil according to the label, perhaps expecting little.
- The pupil senses this, loses confidence and works less.
- The pupil's results fall, appearing to 'prove' the original label.
The famous study by Rosenthal and Jacobson suggested that when teachers were told certain pupils would 'bloom', those pupils did improve, partly because of how they were then treated. This shows labels can shape reality. The good news is that positive labelling and high expectations can lift pupils too.