The journey of the creative The journey of the creative curriculum curriculum

The startThe startThe leadership focus….. The leadership focus…..

To be convinced To be convinced yourself yourself that it is a that it is a journey worth taking journey worth taking

ResilienceResilience

A place on the SDP…..powering school A place on the SDP…..powering school directiondirection

Reflected in Teaching and Learning Policy Reflected in Teaching and Learning Policy

.. I’ll buy it!!.. I’ll buy it!!My new iphone…..My new iphone…..Looks brilliant…it IS brilliantLooks brilliant…it IS brilliantI’m terrified of itI’m terrified of itHow do I actually use it to release its full How do I actually use it to release its full potential?potential?

Becoming a creative learning school…. Becoming a creative learning school…. Could be overwhelming…. ……. Where to Could be overwhelming…. ……. Where to start?start?

I only know one story, one journey…this is I only know one story, one journey…this is how it went…. how it went….

Actually…this is how it’s Actually…this is how it’s still still going…..going…..

The threat exists of children drifting The threat exists of children drifting into underachievement through into underachievement through

disengagement……disengagement……[20/20 vision document ~ 2006][20/20 vision document ~ 2006]

The key question… The key question…

How could we bring How could we bring sparklesparkle into into learning?learning?

Journey…Journey…

Disparate parts to explore…..Disparate parts to explore…..

Why…Who…Where…How…What…?Why…Who…Where…How…What…?

………….next?.next?

Children…Children…Prussia 1717….chalk and talkPrussia 1717….chalk and talk

‘ ‘today’s children are no longer the people today’s children are no longer the people our educational system was designed to our educational system was designed to teach’ teach’ [Mark Prensky, games producer][Mark Prensky, games producer]

Children today are ‘digital natives’Children today are ‘digital natives’Are we teaching children for a world that Are we teaching children for a world that no longer exists?no longer exists?

‘ ‘the world our children is going to live in the world our children is going to live in is changing four times faster than our is changing four times faster than our schools’ schools’ [Dr W Daggett][Dr W Daggett]

We are preparing our children for jobs that We are preparing our children for jobs that haven’t been created yethaven’t been created yet

And……And……

‘ ‘ Today’s children and young people are less Today’s children and young people are less passive, biddable and deferential than in passive, biddable and deferential than in past generations’ past generations’ [20/20 vision document][20/20 vision document]

……… ……… no pressure then……no pressure then……

Ethos … creating the cultureEthos … creating the cultureWhere are you when your best ideas Where are you when your best ideas come to you?come to you?Enabling a free flow of ideas in an Enabling a free flow of ideas in an atmosphere which is not pressured…atmosphere which is not pressured…Allowing Allowing timetime for thinking for thinkingActivity not prescribedActivity not prescribedFostering independence…in thought Fostering independence…in thought and actionand actionSharing the culture Sharing the culture

Creating the ethos is all about Creating the ethos is all about C words….C words….

Culture Curiosity ChallengeCulture Curiosity Challenge

Can do Courage CelebrationCan do Courage Celebration

Chorizo …..Chorizo …..

Capriciousness Communication Capriciousness Communication

Continuity Character CollaborationContinuity Character Collaboration

Teaching Teaching Teaching creatively and teaching FOR Teaching creatively and teaching FOR creativity…. creativity….

Can you remember your best teacher? Can you remember your best teacher?

AfL centralAfL centralMotivation is a four letter word Motivation is a four letter word [Ian Gilbert][Ian Gilbert]

Questioning, reflective, celebrate Questioning, reflective, celebrate differencedifference‘‘Good teachers are unpredictable’ Good teachers are unpredictable’ [Tim [Tim Brighouse/PHA]Brighouse/PHA]

Outcomes for teachersOutcomes for teachersA key focus has been on empowering A key focus has been on empowering teachersteachers

Out of the comfort zone for some… Out of the comfort zone for some…

CPD so important & ongoing supportCPD so important & ongoing support

ICT upskillingICT upskilling

Up to speed?.....doctors?Up to speed?.....doctors?

School ethos…. Collaboration…confidence… School ethos…. Collaboration…confidence… fostering and allowing freedom to look fostering and allowing freedom to look sidewayssideways

CurriculumCurriculum…..…..

Tempting to be the starting pointTempting to be the starting point

Invest in the spirit…the attitudes and Invest in the spirit…the attitudes and valuesvalues

Ensure whole community is singing Ensure whole community is singing from the same philosophical song from the same philosophical song sheetsheet

Harmony not unison…. Harmony not unison….

The creative curriculumThe creative curriculumThe bulging suitcase…’must have’ The bulging suitcase…’must have’ itemsitems

Remain focused on childrenRemain focused on children

The most complex of journeysThe most complex of journeys

So many curriculum webs ….So many curriculum webs ….

So many QCA schemes of workSo many QCA schemes of work

Excellence and enjoymentExcellence and enjoyment

Literacy and numeracy prioritiesLiteracy and numeracy priorities

At BSM……..At BSM……..Rigour and structure to the processRigour and structure to the process

Keen focus on basic skills… Keen focus on basic skills…

Lots of talking….lots of imaginingLots of talking….lots of imagining

Key role of enrichment activitiesKey role of enrichment activities

Creativity and successful learning Creativity and successful learning inseparableinseparable

The planning processThe planning processThe whole year overviewThe whole year overview

Adding wealth of enrichment activities…..Adding wealth of enrichment activities…..

Activities integrated into curriculum…not Activities integrated into curriculum…not add-ons to interrupt normal flowadd-ons to interrupt normal flow

Broad themes….initially strong QCA focusBroad themes….initially strong QCA focus

Well-versed in making connections across Well-versed in making connections across curriculum to reinforce learningcurriculum to reinforce learning

And then one day in cross-And then one day in cross-curricular land…curricular land…

The innocuous question…. ‘what does a The innocuous question…. ‘what does a Y2 historian look like compared to a Y5 Y2 historian look like compared to a Y5 one?one?

How to keep track of children’s learning How to keep track of children’s learning in subjects that have crossed each in subjects that have crossed each others boundaries?others boundaries?

Moved away from many of QCA schemesMoved away from many of QCA schemes

Skills based curriculum Skills based curriculum

The audit…The audit…

Creative learning journeysCreative learning journeysThematic approachThematic approach

Rolling programmes for KS1 and KS2Rolling programmes for KS1 and KS2

Coverage of skills across the year… Coverage of skills across the year… no gapsno gaps

Closely assessedClosely assessed

Imaginative and freeImaginative and free

SpiritualitySpirituality

The children love it …[animation]The children love it …[animation]

The ultimate goal….The ultimate goal….Teaching Teaching for for creativity.creativity.Striving for everyone to be creative learners Striving for everyone to be creative learners Think independently, happy to be differentThink independently, happy to be differentBe good collaborators, open to the ideas of Be good collaborators, open to the ideas of othersothersBe articulate, be good communicators…. Be articulate, be good communicators…. Skilled in the art of asking questionsSkilled in the art of asking questionsBe reflective problem solvers, confident to Be reflective problem solvers, confident to take riskstake risksThink sideways…..Think sideways…..Love learningLove learning

That is the destination…..That is the destination…..

We’re getting there…..We’re getting there…..

INFO………INFO………

www.hamilton-trust.org.ukwww.hamilton-trust.org.uk

Curriculum planning for Primary Curriculum planning for Primary schools ~ Education Development schools ~ Education Development Service, Somerset 01823 356150Service, Somerset 01823 356150

The New Learning Revolution ~ The New Learning Revolution ~ Gordon Dryden, Jeanette Vos Gordon Dryden, Jeanette Vos Network Press ISBN 1-85539-183-XNetwork Press ISBN 1-85539-183-X