Schools of Creativity

As well as developing innovative creative programmes in their own schools, the small cohort of 55 Schools of Creativity provided leadership and support to a local network of schools and worked at national level as an innovative and influential peer group.

The Schools of Creatvity programme worked with a group of schools chosen because they had already displayed outstanding practice in creative teaching and learning, and were also committed to outreach to other schools in the community and nationally. There were 55 Schools of Creativity across all phases of education (nursery, primary, secondary and special schools) located in all areas of England.

There were three aims to the Schools of Creativity programme:

1. To develop practice – to develop their own schools through cutting edge creative practice

2. To influence practice – to help transform other schools through innovative dissemination and partnership work

3. To lead practice – Schools of Creativity help transform educational practice nationally through their role with Creativity, Culture and Education (CCE)

Schools of Creativity received a grant of £20,000 from Creativity Culture and Education and contributed £5,000 of their school funds, making a total programme budget of £25,000. As part of the programme the schools received 20 days with a creative professional which the school recruited to suit their needs as well as three days a year with an educational consultant who provided a national perspective and had extensive knowledge, skills and experience of schools and the education system.

2010-11 marked the final year of this programme.