Oak Curriculum Ontology
This ontology defines the structure of programmes, units, unit variants, and lessons for the Oak Curriculum. It provides a framework for representing curriculum sequencing, optionality, and exam board variations.
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This ontology defines the structure and content of the Oak Curriculum Ontology. It is a machine-readable semantic representation of the Oak Curriculum and linkage to the National Curriculum for England (2014).
Ordered list of educational aims for this subject as stated in the National Curriculum.
aims
Indicates that a progression includes a specific content descriptor.
includes content descriptor
Indicates that a subject group covers content from a discipline.
covers discipline
Indicates that a scheme covers a specific key stage.
covers key stage
Indicates that a subject covers content from a strand of knowledge.
covers strand
Indicates that a programme covers a specific year group.
covers year group
Indicates that a programme is specified by an exam board.
has exam board
Indicates that a lesson has a specific key learning point.
has key learning point
Indicates that a phase contains a key stage as a subdivision.
has key stage
Indicates that a lesson has a specific keyword.
has keyword
Links a unit variant to a lesson inclusion relationship.
has lesson inclusion
Indicates that a lesson's content relates to a specific misconception.
has misconception
Indicates that an Oak programme is specified for a National Curriculum scheme.
has programme
Indicates that a scheme contains a progression.
has progression
Indicates that a lesson has a specific pupil learning outcome.
has pupil lesson outcome
Indicates that a subject contains a scheme.
has scheme
Indicates that a subject group contains a subject.
has subject
Indicates that a programme is specified for a tier.
has tier
Indicates that an Oak unit is specified for a National Curriculum scheme.
has unit
Indicates that a unit has a specific unit variant.
has unit variant
Links a programme to a unit variant inclusion relationship.
has unit variant inclusion
One of the available unit variant options in a choice.
has unit variant option
Indicates that a key stage contains a year group as a subdivision.
has year group
Indicates that a unit includes a specific content descriptor.
includes content
Specifies which lesson is included.
includes lesson
Indicates that a unit includes development of a cross-cutting thread.
includes thread
Specifies which unit variant is included.
includes unit variant
Links a unit inclusion to a choice group. Use this instead of includesUnitVariant when multiple options are available.
includes unit variant choice
Indicates that a content descriptor is included by a specific unit.
is content of
Indicates that a year group is covered by a specific programme.
is covered by programme
Indicates that a key stage is covered by a specific scheme.
is covered by scheme
Indicates that content from a strand of knowledge is covered by a subject.
is covered by subject
Indicates that content from a discipline is covered by a subject group.
is covered by subject group
Indicates that an exam board is specifying a programme.
is exam board of
Indicates that a content descriptor is included in a specific progression.
is included by progression
Indicates that a key learning point belongs to a specific lesson.
is key learning point of
Indicates that a key stage is a subdivision of a phase.
is key stage of
Indicates a keyword of a lesson.
is keyword of
Indicates a misconception is related to a lesson's content.
is misconception of
Indicates that a National Curriculum scheme includes an Oak programme.
is programme of
Indicates that a progression is part of a scheme.
is progression of
Indicates that a pupil lesson outcome belongs to a specific lesson.
is pupil lesson outcome of
Indicates that a scheme is part of a subject.
is scheme of
Indicates that a subject is part of a subject group.
is subject of
Indicates a cross-cutting thread that is developed by a specific unit.
is thread of
Indicates that a tier includes a programme.
is tier of
Indicates that a National Curriculum scheme includes an Oak unit.
is unit of
Indicates a unit variant of a unit.
is unit variant of
Indicates that a year group is a subdivision of a key stage.
is year group of
The body that accredits this exam board.
accreditation body
A correct explanation that addresses and fixes the misconception.
correction
Numeric position for ordered display of curriculum concepts.
display order
Type of exam qualification.
exam type
A numeric identifier.
identifier
Indicates whether the programme is examined.
is examined
Indicates whether the programme delivers content that is specified in the National Curriculum.
is national curriculum
Indicates whether the programme delivers content that maintained schools are legally required to teach (whether specified in the National Curriculum or not).
is required
Lower age boundary of an educational level.
lower age boundary
The maximum number of unit variant options that can be selected from a unit variant choice. Used with includesUnitVariantChoice to specify selection constraints. For example, maxChoices=1 means only one option can be chosen (pick one of many). If not specified, defaults to the number of available options (can pick all).
maximum choices
The minimum number of unit variant options that must be selected from a unit variant choice. Used with includesUnitVariantChoice to specify selection constraints. For example, minChoices=1 means at least one option must be chosen.
minimum choices
Specific text relating to rationale.
rationale
Specific text relating to school curriculum.
school curriculum
The position within a sequence. Each inclusion has exactly one position.
sequence position
A textual statement expressing a misconception.
statement
Description.
unit prior knowledge requirements
Upper age boundary of an educational level.
upper age boundary
The official website URL of an exam board.
website
Explains the pedagogical rationale for teaching this unit at this point in the curriculum sequence, including what prior learning it builds upon and how it prepares pupils for subsequent units.
why this why now
A statement of knowledge (a concept, fact or skill) within a sub-strand.
Content Descriptor
A domain of knowledge (e.g. mathematics, english, history).
Discipline
An awarding organization that creates, assesses, and awards qualifications in England. Exam boards develop specifications for qualifications such as GCSEs and A-levels, which are regulated by Ofqual.
Exam Board
An abstract superclass for UnitVariantInclusion and LessonInclusion.
Inclusion
A specific learning objective or outcome that pupils should achieve in a lesson. Key learning points are specific to individual lessons and represent the core knowledge or skills that students should acquire.
Key Learning Point
A key stage that structures learning for specific age groups.
Key Stage
Description of a keyword.
Keyword
A single teaching session within a unit variant. A lesson includes learning activities, resources, and formative assessment designed to achieve specific learning outcomes.
Lesson
Represents the inclusion of a lesson in a unit variant, including sequencing and optional metadata such as whether the lesson is required or optional.
Lesson Inclusion
Description of a misconception or common mistake.
Misconceptions
A phase of study in the education system.
Phase
A structured sequence of units designed for a specific year group, and optionally for a specific exam board and tier. A programme defines the curriculum pathway for a subject that students follow during an academic year.
Programme
A progression defines curriculum content relating to a single sub-strand, for a scheme.
Progression
The expected outcome that pupils should be able to demonstrate by the end of a lesson. This describes what pupils should be able to do or understand after completing the lesson.
Pupil Lesson Outcome
A scheme defines one or more progressions for a subject and a key stage.
Scheme
An area of knowledge within a discipline (e.g. number, algebra).
Strand
A sub-division of a strand (e.g. place value, addition and subtraction).
Sub-Strand
Subject (e.g. biology, history, physical education).
Subject
Subject group (e.g. science, history, physical education).
Subject Group
A conceptual thread that weaves through multiple units or lessons, representing a recurring theme, skill, or big idea.
Thread
A level of difficulty within a tiered qualification, typically used in GCSE subjects. Foundation tier covers grades 1-5, while Higher tier covers grades 4-9, with grade 4 as the overlap.
Tier
A unit of study representing a coherent body of knowledge and skills. A unit may have multiple unit variants for different tiers and/or exam boards.
Unit
A specific version of a unit, potentially adapted for different exam boards, tiers, or pedagogical approaches. Unit variants share the same learning objectives but may differ in content, examples, or assessment focus.
Unit Variant
A choice between multiple unit variants at a given sequence position. One unit variant should be selected from the available options.
Unit Variant Choice
Represents the inclusion of a unit variant in a programme, including sequencing and optional metadata such as whether the unit variant is required or optional.
Unit Variant Inclusion
A year group within a key stage.
Year Group
Supporting guidance for a content descriptor.
supporting guidance