Creativity

Embedding Learning Through the Arts in the Curriculum: Lessons from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Teacher Development Fund Pilot Evaluation

The session evaluated CUREE's work with the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. The foundation wanted to investigate how the arts can be used to improve people's education. We evaluated the six projects that were implemented by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and looked into what lessons can be learnt from the teacher development fund pilot evaluation.  

Re-designing the curriculum to develop childrens creativity

Aim: We wanted to know if there are generic competencies that learners need to be creative, what those learning attributes are, and whether being creative develops childrens life-long learning skills. This was so that we could focus on teaching those key life-long learning skills and change / simplify our school curriculum, adapt teaching & learning to enhance childrens creative opportunities and ignite a broader professional debate about future curriculum content.

Using data to ensure gifted and talented students achieve their full potential in Design and Technology

Aim: The research set out to look into the provision for Gifted and Talented pupils within Design and Technology at Key Stage 3 in a Hartlepool school, which was currently using a standardised ability test known as Middle Years Information System (MidYIS). Two questions were considered: Are test results from MidYIS a reliable indicator for technology GAT pupils? and Does a more creative delivery encourage GAT pupils to produce higher-level ideas and to be more satisfied with their projects?"

Silence and presence - How adult attitude affects the creativity of children (or how not to inhibit creativity in children)

Aim: The initial aim of the research was to concentrate on childrens creativity outdoors. However, analysis of our original data, as well as our mentors observation that in comparison with other nurseries, we were successful in the way we conducted outdoor activities with children, turned the research on its head. We decided to look at what it was that adults do, that impacts on the quality of childrens learning. Specifically we wanted to explore how adult attitude impacts on childrens creativity and explore our own approach to outdoor education.

Improving writing through a creative approach

Aim: The main aim was to build and implement an approach to raising achievement using a creative strategy based on the current evidence about improving childrens motivation for writing. Specifically the objectives were: To raise the attainment in writing of an underachieving Year Two class through a creative approach. To improve pupils attitudes towards, and engagement with, the writing process. To make clear links to the Primary Framework Objectives for text, sentence and word level within an integrated approach.