How the Schools of Creativity programme works

27 Oct 2008

As well as developing innovative creative programmes in their own schools, Schools of Creativity provide leadership and support to a local network of schools and work at national level as an innovative and influential peer group that contributes to the development of teaching and learning.

They do this by:

• developing practice - transforming their schools through cutting-edge programmes and research within and across Schools of Creativity
• influencing practice - helping to transform other schools through innovative dissemination and partnership work with other schools
• leading practice - helping to transform the education system through a national network and a strategic role in the new national organisation, Creativity, Culture and Education, which manages the Creative Partnerships programme.

The Creative Partnerships approach to developing a creative programme is distinctive:

• it starts with the school improvement plan - linking programme development closely with priorities identified by the school
• it makes time for proper in-depth planning to ensure programmes are relevant and needs based
• it facilitates processes where young people, teachers and practitioners can work together as co-constructors of learning
• it brokers and supports long-term relationships between young people, teachers and creative practitioners
• it supports in-depth evaluation and reflection, leading to sustainable and embedded practice

The Schools of Creativity programme will develop innovative practice that might relate to:

• the role of leaders in developing a creative school and creative approaches to school leadership
• reforming and restructuring the curriculum
• the role of creativity in raising standards
• the personalised learning agenda and pupil voice
• the ways in which school staff teach and learn creatively
• the ways in which children are encouraged to learn creatively
• the ways in which spaces and other resources are used
• the ways in which external partners, especially from the creative and cultural sector, are involved in the life of the school
• sharing and developing practice across a network of schools
• family learning and community development - eg putting the creative school at the heart of the community