Creative Apprentices
Research Question: How can a focus upon creativity develop attributes of resilience and independent thinking in learners attending a high achieving school?
The starting point for the programme at Great Sankey High School in Warrington was to use open space technology to identify some key issues, attitudes and ways forward. This innovative methodology, led by a team of creative consultants, was used with 80 pupils from across the Key Stages and also with the whole staff of 180 during one whole day of in-service training. As part of this process, two detailed reports were written and shared with the whole school identifying ways forward. It also gave the young people and whole school staff a clear and shared focus that was closely aligned to the work of the school’s curriculum innovation team. Teachers and pupils felt ‘a high degree of involvement and ownership’.
Impact
What followed was the setting up of programmes that looked at how the subject delivery of curriculum and cross-curriculum dimensions supported the co-construction and ownership of learning in ways that promoted independence and resilience. Some examples included the use of film makers with an expertise in identifying aspects of creative learning; they recorded lessons which were then discussed with pupils and teachers. Interactive drama methodologies were also introduced and their impact on independence and resilience were evaluated as part of thematic days through partnership-working between teachers, young people and a theatre-in-education company.
This is the start of a two year programme that will be completed by June 2010 by which time it will be possible to assess its impact.
