If you would like to talk to someone about Alite's training offers, please call us on 01628 810700 extension 0 or contact us.

Creativity in the Primary Curriculum

Creativity is a word which is used a lot in the context of learning. It carries with it two assumptions which are wrong! The first is that schools, especially the curriculum and our assessment system, 'kill' the basic creativity lying within every learner. The second is that creativity is largely about inspiring 'events' facilitated by outsiders – poets, musicians, artists – who carry with them some form of magic touch.

We see lots of very creative teachers who on a moment by moment basis bring out the best in those around. We think it trite, in the midst of a wealth of great practice, to talk of killing creativity. We have lots of direct experience of schools who bring out and sustain creativity in all they do. Typically we would explore:

What is it: events, moments or interactions?
How do we get more creativity into the everyday routine?
The six Creative Dimensions to Teaching
Micro-moments – being creative about being creative
Einstein's 55 minutes: the best learners ask the best questions

Case Study

Alite has recently started working with teachers from Richmond primary and secondary schools to look at embedding creativity into the warp and weft of teaching and learning: watch this space!

Success

As part of his current research into top performing schools for the new book Primary Performers: The Secrets of Successful Primary Schools Alistair selected thirty schools of whom five had a national reputation for creativity. The findings lie behind the six creative dimensions. Wroxham School was one of the schools visited.

"We were told by an Inspector that despite having straight 1's some of the children had difficulty finding texts in the library. Our issue was more about space and access rather than indexing or research skills so we thought outside the box. We asked the children. Within a week our problem was solved: we bought a double-decker bus off E-Bay, took the wheels off and put it on a corner of the playground. It now doubles as a quiet study area and a library. The children love it!
Alison Peacock, Head teacher, Wroxham School