Knowsley helps schools get creative
5 February 2009
Schools collaboration makes topic-based teaching fun,
relevant and effective
New and exciting ways to learn are inspiring
pupils and teachers in Knowsley to take a creative approach to the
national curriculum.
The pioneering new teaching methods – expected
to be given the backing by a Government White Paper later this year
– see the end of traditional subjects such as English and Maths
being taught in isolation.
Instead, the students cover all areas of the
curriculum as part of one ‘topic’ they are particularly interested
in – such as ‘the seaside’ or ‘food’.
Lessons are tailored around the exploration of
the theme across all areas of the curriculum. For example, the
‘Tudors’ topic at Nine Tree primary in Huyton saw pupils composing
Tudor diary extracts in English, designing presentations in
ICT and creating a Henry VIII collage in art.
This new Creative Curriculum approach has been
developed by The North Huyton Learning Collaborative, which is made
up of a number of schools from the North Huyton area of Knowsley,
Merseyside. Thanks to funding from the North Huyton Learning
Collaborative, the schools have been able to work together to share
best practice and develop more exciting ways of teaching – for both
pupils and teachers.
Elaine Ayre, Service Director for Children and
Family Services at Knowsley Council, explains: “Knowsley’s Creative
Curriculum came about as a result of the excellent collaboration
that has existed in North Huyton since 2004.
“The teachers wanted to look at ways to really
inspire the pupils and help them really understand what they were
learning and why it is relevant to them.
“The amount of creativity that has been
demonstrated by teaching staff has been incredible, and the result
has been enthusiastic, engaged pupils who are genuinely enjoying
learning.”
The North Huyton schools collaborative has now
put together a resource pack for other schools to help them benefit
from a similar way of teaching. It also includes cutting edge
computer technology to help them analyse the success of their
creative teaching at the touch of a button – much reducing the
workload of teachers, especially in the run up to any Ofsted
inspections.
Knowsley’s development of a Creative
Curriculum is expected to pre-empt the Government’s White Paper, an
Independent Review on Primary Curriculum, which is expected to
recommend more schools adopt this method of “topic teaching” to
improve pupil engagement.
Cllr Graham Wright, Cabinet Member for
Children’s Services in Knowsley, said: “The schools in North Huyton
are really showing the way when it comes to revamping teaching
methods to make them most appropriate for 21st century
learning.
“Their findings are now being shared with
other schools in Knowsley so that they can benefit from their
expertise and experience.
“The Government white paper is expected to
call for more creative, topic based teaching, and once again
Knowsley’s schools are well ahead of the game and setting n example
for others to follow.”
Indeed, Knowsley’s innovative work in this
area has already attracted the interest and approval of Ofsted. In
their recent inspection of St Aloysius primary in Huyton, the
inspector noted: “Teachers and teaching assistants strive to make
learning fun and relevant for their pupils. They use a range of
teaching approaches which maintain pupils’ interest and plan topics
which capture their imagination. Their enthusiastic approach to
teaching is reflected in the enthusiastic response of pupils.”
See photos of the Creative Curriculum launch on our Flickr
page.
Notes to editors:
The North Huyton Learning Collaborative is a
partnership of local schools, the community, key agencies and
external partners who work together to achieve the best for all
children, young people and their families. It is funded by the
North Huyton New Deal for Communities and was established to help
narrow the gap in educational achievement for local children and
young people.
Further extracts from St Aloysius
Ofsted report 19 June, 2008 (Page 5):
“The quality of teaching and learning is
consistently good and there is much outstanding practice… Above
all, teachers and teaching assistants strive to make learning fun
and relevant for their pupils. They use a range of teaching
approaches which maintain pupils’ interest and plan topics which
capture their imagination. Their enthusiastic approach to teaching
is reflected in the enthusiastic response of pupils.
“Excellent curriculum provision enthuses and
motivates pupils. They thoroughly enjoy the International Primary
Curriculum’s (IPC) thematic approach and particularly relish
opportunities for investigative work and research. The curriculum
is well matched to pupils’ needs and enables pupils of all
abilities to make excellent progress. Literacy, numeracy and
information and communication technology skills are effectively
integrated into learning.”
Case study: St Albert’s Primary,
Huyton
Children became Knights of the Round Table
during their topic ‘Myths and Legends’. They learned geography by
exploring Nottingham with Robin Hood and learned the differences
between villages, towns and cities ; a history based Grace Darling
theme helped them discover the history of the founder of the
lifeboat movement; and a science based Bigfoot theme investigated
what the legendary creature might eat, sleep and how he could stay
warm.
Siobhan Rimmer, St Albert’s IPC Coordinator,
said: “The IPC is a springboard to be more creative – it gives us a
bank of ideas which we can build on to create much more inventive
education.”
For more information, contact Gemma Melling,
Communications Officer (Media), Knowsley Council, 0151 443 3537 or
email gemma.melling@knowsley.gov.uk.