Youngsters get creative as part of unique arts project
News release
16th May 2011
Reception children and teachers at Fulbridge Primary School in Peterborough have spent the year getting creative with the help of local artists.
And they’ll be enjoying a celebration event tomorrow (Tuesday 17th May) marking the end of a unique collaborative project which has given the children opportunities for creative learning.
Parents and children at the school will be able to meet the artists involved in the project and try out some creative activities that will be set up in the school hall.
The project was led by Katie Smith of The Thinking Bridge and co-ordinated by the Creative Partnerships programme which brings artists, architects and scientists into schools to work with teachers to inspire young people and help them to learn.
Fulbridge Primary School was paired with St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Grantham and worked with The Totem Pole – an early years training and resource centre based in Grantham – to introduce new creative experiences to the children.
As part of the project three reception teachers and three artists worked together for six months, coming together once a month at The Totem Pole to explore an element of teaching practice.
The artists visited Fulbridge Primary School and the children enjoyed puppet theatres, exploring light and shadow, working with wood and discovering a winter wonderland created for them in the playground.
New online technology enabled the teachers and practitioners to record their experiences via blogs and Twitter.
“By working with artists not just for one day but over a long period we can develop a really good relationship and the children can see how they develop as artists themselves,” said Charlotte Krzanicki, Fulbridge School’s Creative Co-ordinator and Deputy Head.
“The Totem Pole have been brilliant and we’ve really enjoyed the process of working with Mary Barlow and Barbara Thomas and training alongside the artists.
“Teachers and artists trained together at The Totem Pole in Grantham, which is a lovely setting, and we enjoyed learning about their child-led, creative ethos.”
Reporters and photographers are invited to a photo opportunity at Fulbridge Primary School on Keeton Road, Peterborough between 9am and 3pm on Tuesday 17th May. If you would like to attend please contact Shooting Star PR on 01522 528540.
Notes to editors
- Fulbridge School is a National School of Creativity – one of only 56 in England – and its creative programme is managed by Creativity Culture and Education (CCE).
- The artists were Gizella Warburton (textiles), Ian Etheridge (sculpture) and Rosie Ward (light installation).
- The celebration day begins at 9am on Tuesday 17th May and finishes at 3pm.
- Creative Partnerships was developed by the last Government in 2002 as a flagship programme to develop creative teaching and learning in English schools. The programme brings creative workers such as artists, architects and scientists into schools to work with teachers and to inspire young people and help them learn.
- Since its introduction Creative Partnerships has worked with over 1 million children and over 90,000 teachers in more than 8,000 projects.
- The Totem Pole is a unique training and resource centre for everybody caring for children which offers individuals a different way of learning.
- Early Years consultant Mary Barlow has more than 20 years’ experience in child development and develops training programmes underpinned by best practice.
Jez Ashberry
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
jez@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @jezashberry
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