Creative Contexts for Learning 2005

Each edition of Creative Contexts for Learning last for an academic year and culminates in a celebratory exhibition in the stunning location of Beverley Minster.

Creative Contexts 2004 - 2005: A Celebration of Curriculum Arts Projects in East Riding Schools

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Images from the CCfL Exhibition 2005

More than two thirds of the East Riding of Yorkshire's schools have participated in Creative Contexts for Learning since its inception.

Some schools join once and then use the experience and model to develop their own work, others apply with greater regularity because they enjoy the support, the funding, the sense of community and the opportunity for exhibiting work at the end of the year.

The initiative has twice been inspected by HMI, in 2002 and 2003, and was also one of the Projects examined as part of QCA’s research into creativity.

As a reflection of the success of Creative Contexts for Learning’s other schools and LEA’s have adopted the model as a method for raising attainment.

Creative Contexts for Learning has gone from strength to strength and has grown significantly from 25 schools each year on average to a staggering 51 in 2005.

This is due in part to the initiative’s successes, the desire by schools to broaden their curriculum and to the philosophy imparted by the Government through the ‘Excellence and Enjoyment’ document.

Creative Contexts for Learning runs on a fairly small budget but has a big effect on those involved.

The key aim of Creative Contexts for Learning is to raise pupil attainment in core subjects and across the curriculum through active engagement with the Arts.

Creative Contexts for Learning began as an opportunity for schools to engage with professional artists and has developed into an important vehicle for change.

Because it creates excitement and enjoyment it has acted, in many instances, as a tool for making significant changes in teaching and learning and in the development of schools.

Initiative schools use a classroom based action research methodology in order to measure pupil progress and gains made in learning, both in core area of learning and in their chosen art form or forms.

The action research also provides evidence - testing, questionnaires, SATs results, Co-ordinators Reports and Oftsed Reports as well as personal testimony - to back up these bold claims.

Creative Contexts for Learning has also had a radical effect on the learning of large numbers of children.

It has helped to engage the previously unmotivated and has enhanced the achievements of many children whether they are considered to be less able, gifted and talented or of average ability.

Schools who opt to join Creative Contexts for Learning are asked to identify a priority, or priorities, from the School Improvement Service’s Education Development Plan and to specify an area of their School Development Plan that their involvement will address.

However, many also have other individual and subtle reasons for joining and Creative Contexts for Learning is often employed as a catalyst for change perhaps to increase the role of the Arts in school, to boost cross-curricular work or to raise children’s attainment by seemingly subversive means!

A Celebration of Curriculum Arts Projects in East Riding Schools

The 2005 edition of the initiative had the sub-title - T R A N S F O R M A T I O N S.

The main focus for schools was on environmental issues-based outcomes.

This included, for example, the use of recycled or found materials for artwork and environmental issues-based themes for dance, drama and music.

The Initiative also had strands linked to issues of ethnic diversity and to religious and spiritual themes with some schools choosing to make links between these and the main focus.

As is evident from these images from the Final Exhibition, participating schools have made some highly original and innovative contributions to Creative Contexts for Learning.

Pupils have demonstrated considerable gains in their learning and have derived great benefit from the first-hand experience of working alongside contemporary Arts practitioners.

Schools have produced work of tremendous quality, demonstrating the great range of talent possessed by both pupils and their teachers.

Should you require further details of the initiative as a whole or of specific projects featured here then please contact:

David Mell, Teaching and Learning Consultant, Creative Arts
Tel: (01482) 392466
E-mail: david.mell@eastriding.gov.uk