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These schools will work with government’s creative learning programme to further develop teaching and learning practices, form innovative partnerships with other schools and help to shape future education policy and practice.

The Schools of Creativity, located in a range of urban and rural communities, will use creative teaching and learning to unlock the potential of every pupil, developing the broader skills required for their future world. As stated in the government’s recent Education White Paperi, the world is changing fast and employers of the future will require today’s young people to enter employment with good qualifications and the ability to be flexible, adaptable and creative. The Schools of Creativity programme will help raise educational standards and develop in students the skills that employers say they need such as the ability to question, make connections, innovate, problem solve and reflect critically.

Barbara Follett MP, Minister for Culture & Tourism at the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, said: "We want to support young people to develop the right skills fit for the 21st century world of work, and to place creativity at the heart of young people's learning.

That is why I’m really pleased to welcome the successful Schools of Creativity programme and to welcome schools to this elite group today. I look forward to seeing the results of their work. These schools will be at the cutting edge of what can be achieved when schools are supported to be creative, right across the curriculum."

Over the next two years each school will receive £40,000 in funding from Creative Partnerships plus an education consultant to help develop and promote creative learning. The practice in each School of Creativity will vary according to its local community needs and the school’s own educational requirements.

Some schools will be restructuring their timetables to ensure that all lessons provide opportunities for creativity within a safe risk-taking environment whilst others will continue to inspire learners through projects such as improving children’s literacy through film-making and using outdoor learning spaces to spark innovation and creativity.

The new Schools of Creativity are:

• Accrington Academy, Accrington, Lancashire
• Allens Croft Primary School, Birmingham
• Batheaston CEVC Primary School, Bath
• Chenderit School, Banbury, Oxfordshire
• Cirencester Deer Park School, Gloucestershire
• Damers First School, Dorchester, Dorset
• Epinay Business and Enterprise School, Jarrow, Tyne & Wear
• Fulbridge School, New England, Peterborough
• Goathland Primary School, Longbenton, North Tyneside
• Haybridge High School, Hagley, Worcestershire
• Lakers School, Coleford, Gloucestershire
• Manning Comprehensive School, Nottingham
• Old Park Primary School, Telford
• Our Lady of Victories Catholic Primary School, Keighley, West Yorkshire
• Peel Park Primary School, Accrington, Lancashire
• Penn Hall School, Wolverhampton
• Prudhoe Community High School, Prudhoe, Northumberland
• South Dartmoor Community College, Ashburton, Devon
• South Tyneside Early Excellence Children's Centre, Hebburn, Tyne and Wear
• South Wirral High School, Wirral
• Surlingham Primary School, Norwich, Norfolk
• The Green School, Isleworth, Middlesex
• Three Ways School, Bath
• The Wroxham School, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire
• West Town Primary School, Peterborough
• Whitley Memorial CE First School, Bedlington, Northumberland

The 26 schools will join 30 existing Schools of Creativity previously selected in 2008. The Schools will act as leaders in their fields, setting up networks of other local schools to share the learning and maximize opportunities across a national network developing and promoting creative learning across England.

Creative Partnerships which is managed by national organisation Creativity, Culture and Education (CCE), has worked with nearly 5,000 schools across England, from Key Stage 1 to 4. The programme fosters innovative long-term partnerships between schools and creative professionals, including artists, performers, architects, multimedia developers and scientists. These partnerships inspire young people, teachers and creative professionals to challenge how they work and experiment with new ideas.

Creative Partnerships is already producing real results in schools. Research findings from the recent ‘Changing Young Lives’ report shows that young people who have attended Creative Partnerships activities made, on average the equivalent of 2.5 grades better progress in GCSE and seven out of 10 secondary head teachers surveyed say Creative Partnerships improves pupil behaviour in their schools.

Paul Collard, Chief Executive of Creativity, Culture and Education (CCE), said: "Our education system needs to reflect the ever changing society we are in. All young people must leave school with good qualifications and a range of skills designed to equip them for the working world - whatever this may look like in the future. The Schools of Creativity will not only progress with their own journey of transformation but their work will help local schools to develop their practice and influence the national agenda. We look forward to working with them all to embed the Creative Partnerships way of learning across the country"