Being involved in the Lead Creative Schools Scheme is part of a continuing professional journey for teachers and their schools. Taking an enquiry-led approach, one or more teachers will work with Creative Professionals over two phases, to co-construct creative and authentic learning experiences which align with the Four Purposes of education and engage the Creative Habits of Mind.
Schools are assigned a Creative Agent who will work with senior leaders and teachers to identify challenges within the school development plan that might benefit from a creative learning approach. An enquiry question will be developed and once recruited, Creative Practitioners will collaborate with teachers and learners to devise activity that explores that enquiry question. For example, how numeracy outcomes can be developed using sculpture or how pupils’ literacy skills can be developed through the use of film.
Each school’s enquiry is unique and designed to support individual teacher development and address specific challenges identified in the school’s development plan. In addition, it aims to nurture the creativity of learners, raise attainment aligned to Welsh Government’s priorities and support wider curriculum design.
Lead Creative Schools offer – what you can expect
You will join thousands of like-minded professionals who are undertaking an enquiry to help learners fulfil their potential and achieve their best in all areas of learning and development by exploring the transformational creative learning pedagogy: Creative Habits of Mind and the High Functioning Classroom.
Becoming a Lead Creative School will support your school to:
- address your school development priorities and national priorities
- bring about transformational approaches to teaching and learning
- begin to embed creative approaches across your school setting
- nurture the creativity of teachers and learners
- improve outcomes for learners
Successful Lead Creative Schools will receive funding to explore:
- how creativity and creative approaches to teaching and learning can transform learner outcomes and support a change in the learning culture in schools
- what it really means for young people to be creative and how they know when it is happening
- what teachers and other creative professionals can do to encourage and develop creativity
- how the qualities of a high functioning classroom can support creativity across the whole curriculum
The commitment we expect from schools:
- a dedicated member of SLT to act in the role of School Coordinator for the duration of the grant, 10 days per academic year
- supply cover costs you incur when the school coordinator and participating teachers are attending the Lead Creative Schools training and networking events. NB. this is likely to be one day for School Coordinators and teachers in March 2024.
- allow participating teachers time to plan, evaluate and reflect with all partners and to actively support them to experiment and to teach creatively
- involve teachers and learners as active partners and co-constructors of learning in planning, delivery and evaluation
- demonstrate active support for the Scheme from the headteacher and senior leadership team
- use the learning from the project to inform the future School Development Plan
Funding
Schools apply to join the Scheme over two academic years, receiving a total grant amount of £10,000. After their first year, schools will have to demonstrate they have met the requirements of the scheme and that they have a clear plan for the next phase of their involvement.
Grant funding will pay for your activity over each academic year you are in the Scheme. You will be expected to make a school contribution of 25% of the grant total. This may be met by cash from your school budget and/or other grants and can include the cost of your School Coordinator’s time (up to 10 days) working to support your engagement as a Lead Creative School.
Eligibility criteria
* available for any state-maintained school in Wales (Foundation phase – KS4) who has not yet participated in the Lead Creative Schools Scheme
How to apply
Schools should complete the Lead Creative Schools Application Form. The deadline for applications is 17:00 on Thursday 18 January 2024 We would invite you to attend one of our online briefing sessions before applying.
Online briefing sessions can be found below:
We will aim to notify schools of our decisions in early February 2024. There will be a training day for School Coordinators and teachers before Easter. Your planning will be submitted before the first phase enquiry takes place, which will be between June and December 2024.
If you have questions about your application to the Lead Creative School Scheme you can contact us at creative.learning@arts.wales but before doing so you are advised to read the Handbook fully.
The Lead Creative Schools Scheme allows schools to enter into a long-term programme to develop new approaches to teaching and learning working alongside Creative Professionals in the classroom. Each Lead Creative School receives funding which allows them to plan, implement and evaluate a bespoke programme of work linked directly to their school challenges as they implement and embed the Curriculum for Wales.
The programme is practical and aims to provide teachers with a rich practice-based professional development opportunity. It also aims to improve outcomes for learners, nurture their creativity, to support them to achieve their potential and to prepare them with skills for life. Before beginning their work as a Lead Creative School, participating teachers will also take part in a professional development training day.
The scheme offers many Professional Learning opportunities and at its heart is practice based learning for teachers. Over the course of an academic year participating teachers will have the opportunity to work alongside Creative Professionals and their learners to plan, implement and evaluate a bespoke project in the curriculum. This way of working allows teachers to focus on their own professional development and allows them to experiment with new approaches to teaching and learning.
Participating teachers and the School Coordinator will also take part in an inspiring and practical one-day training to support their understanding of the scheme, of creative learning and the development of creative skills.
Alongside the funding schools also receive support from a Creative Agent who will work with them throughout their journey as a Lead Creative School. Arts Council of Wales pays for the costs of the Creative Agent.
The scheme is open to any state-maintained school in Wales (Foundation phase – KS4) who has not yet participated in the Lead Creative Schools Scheme.
Click on the link on this page.
Applications close at 5pm on Thursday 11 January 2024.
A member of the school’s Senior Leadership Team should make the application on behalf of the school.
We expect that schools will be in the Lead Creative Schools Scheme for two years, receiving a grant of £5,000 each year. After their first year, schools will have to demonstrate they have met the requirements of the scheme and that they have a clear plan for the next phase of their involvement before they receive their grant for year two.
This can come from supply cover costs to allow your school coordinator and teacher to attend the training session, your school coordinators time (up to 10 days) to help implement the project.
Your grant will be spent on creative practitioner time (£300 per day) and materials/resources to deliver the project. The money cannot be used to purchase equipment (including digital) or musical instruments.
No. Lead Creative Schools will begin their journey by working with a specially trained Creative Agent who will be matched to the school by Arts Council of Wales. Together the school community and the Creative Agent will diagnose and clarify the key issues and development priorities that may benefit a creative approach. From these conversations, ideas for project activity are developed and then the process of selecting Creative Practitioners will begin.
Alongside the financial commitment, schools are expected to commit resources, time and capacity to their project work and its planning, implementation and evaluation. They should be willing to influence practice in their own school and to share this with other schools.
Projects can take place across all areas of the curriculum and can also support cross curriculum working too.
The Lead Creative School Scheme focusses on working in the curriculum with activities happening during the school day. It is not an after school programme.
Your School Coordinator (a member of the senior leadership team) and one teacher will be required to attend the training. NB. this is likely to be for 1 day in March 2024.
Learners can be from reception to Year 11. Unfortunately, you cannot use this grant to work with nursery or post-16 learners.
Closed 5pm 18 January 2024.