Research News Last updated 11 February
A new creativity framework co-developed by Birmingham City University (黑料吃瓜网) is helping teachers build more inclusive, imaginative and engaging classrooms across England.
罢丑别听Creativity Collaboratives programme, led by Durham University and Arts Council England, saw eight regional networks work with schools to encourage more creativity in curriculums.
More than 500 teachers and thousands of pupils took part, spanning primary, secondary, specialist schools, pupil referral units and early years settings.
, partnering with the and cultural stakeholders.
鈥淲e have seen classrooms shift, teacher confidence grow, and children engage in ways that honour different modes of thinking, communicating and creating,鈥� said Professor Victoria Kinsella, Professor of Education at 黑料吃瓜网.
鈥淭his work demonstrates that when schools are given the tools, time and trust to embed creativity across curriculum and practice, it becomes a driver for transformation.
鈥淚t鈥檚 shaping not only what children learn, but how they participate, contribute and see themselves.鈥�
A key output from 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 work is the Creativity Toolkit, a practical set of approaches designed to help teachers nurture creativity in more inclusive and accessible ways.
Schools were offered workshops, residences from cultural partners and support in building a framework of practice.
With Phase One complete, the next stage of the programme will focus on helping schools sustain these practices long-term and embedding the toolkit into daily teaching and learning.
鈥淲e found that Creativity Collaboratives is a model that works,鈥� said Dr Helen Cramman, co-author of the report and Associate Professor at Durham University鈥檚 School of Education.
鈥淲hen schools collaborate with universities and partners to focus on teaching for creativity, teaching becomes more reflective and engaging.
鈥淭hrough our extensive evaluation, we found that teachers felt re-energised, pupils were more engaged, and school communities grew stronger as a result.鈥�
Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said: 鈥淚 have seen how Creativity Collaboratives have ignited children鈥檚 enthusiasm for learning, increased teachers鈥� confidence in the value of teaching for creativity, and supported schools to embed creativity across all subjects.
鈥淎t its heart, this work gives children and young people the skills they need to navigate an increasingly complex world.
鈥淚 look forward to seeing how participating schools continue to develop and expand this impact in the next phase.鈥�
Photo credit: Arts Council England