School children enjoy new creative activities

Children from county schools are to enjoy a creative boost to the curriculum thanks to the success of a project which provides cash for professional artists to work alongside teachers in primary schools.

Over the last three years, Herefordshire Council has been working with schools and professionals from the arts and creative industries on a scheme funded by Creative Partnerships which encourages creative activities in schools. The funding is awarded to the council's children's services directorate and managed by cultural services. By employing professional artists to work with schools on long term projects, a range of alternative learning styles and interests can be explored helping to develop the academic and creative abilities of all pupils.

The aim is to enhance teachers' practice, encourage innovation and work with the whole school on a project which will bring benefits to children and staff. It has to connect with learning and encourage problem solving, as well as thinking outside the box.

So far, 14 schools and 500 children have benefited from the scheme. Projects vary from school to school. For example Walford Primary School in Ross-on-Wye worked with Jim Morris Ridout, who helped the children design and develop a unique garden. The final garden included quiet areas, a wild area, bridge, amphitheatre, shaded classroom, vegetable garden and a decked walkway linking all the features together.

Dancers, actors, junk modelling specialists and visual artists like Adrian Higgins have been employed for whole school projects.

Madley Primary School was one of the schools to enjoy Adrian's creative ideas. During his twelve month project the whole school created an island. Different year groups became involved in developing the island, using cameras, modelling clay and a huge range of activities. Maps were prepared, governance was sorted out and a news team was set up to report on the island's progress. Everyone in the school became involved in the project with reception class children creating mythical creatures to populate the island and year six children creating a democratic system to make sure the island would be run properly.

National funders, Creative Partnerships are so impressed with the high quality and range of projects Herefordshire Schools have participated in that they have awarded the county a further £45,000 to continue the work for another year. The new funding will benefit 15 schools and up to 15 different artists.

There will be training for artists and teachers, but the majority of the money will be spent on new activities for Herefordshire children.

Sarah Laws, arts learning officer, said: "This is great news. We've already seen some fantastic work going on with children in schools and now we've got the go-ahead to do even more. Employing someone from the creative industries to work with school adds a different dimension to everyday school life. The children thoroughly enjoy taking part in the projects and being encouraged to think about things differently.

"Getting stuck into a creative whole school project helps children learn about team work and leaves them with something tangible to treasure for years to come."

Primary Schools will shortly receive letters inviting them to apply to participate in the scheme from September 2008.