Warley Town School - “Warley Town Filmmakers”

"Warley Town Filmmakers" project - Warley Town School, Halifax (Calderdale)

Enquiry Question
How does a young person-led media project enable pupils to develop self-motivation in writing in a real life context?

Programme Theme
The aim was to make the project ‘real’, so that children would be motivated to be experimental in applying their own knowledge and ideas. Teachers and pupils worked with a film maker to explore the use of film and screens and eventually explore the film making process for themselves. A very equal partnership was established between lead teacher and film-maker.

Firstly, the workshops focused on FUN, experimenting with how to use the camcorder and how to transfer their shots into ideas, before progressing on to find out for themselves that this became a story. After each workshop the children were encouraged to write up their findings in learning journals.

The pupils made two external visits; the first to artist Hafsah Naib’s exhibition at Manchester Town Hall which explored cultural experience and artistic practice. The second visit was to the National Media Museum where the children explored the use of chroma key.

The class worked in small groups to produce scripted short films. During this part of the project each of the children undertook the various production roles involved in creating the film.

The children then showcased their work to friends, parents, teachers and governors at an award ceremony screening where the children chose the winners of various categories of film.

Focus Group
Year 5 & 6 children

Key Outcomes
The project initially took steps to improving the self-motivation of reluctant learners, particularly in the area of writing. The school had noted how these children enjoy a more practical curriculum, particularly when the work involves some form of ICT.

Sustainable Impact
The school said the key impact on the children’s learning has been:

• Children have become more self-motivated to approach independent enquiries, as was particularly seen in preparing for the film making.
• Children have become more willing to produce imaginative writing.
• The children said: "We can make something up ‘real unreal’ but not just made up, we feel more confident about writing, and now don’t imagine it as a blank piece of paper... we think of a paper full of ideas."

If undertaking the project again, staff at Warley town said they would; "make learning vivid and real: develop understanding through enquiry, creativity, e-learning and group problem solving; make learning an enjoyable and challenging experience."