The new Ofsted framework creates space for schools to place greater importance on creativity and culture. Schools are encouraged to design an ambitious curriculum which will “give all learners the knowledge and cultural capital to succeed in life”. This new framework is one which considers personal and character development of pupils, wellbeing, “resilience, confidence and independence” and to develop their “appreciation of diversity”. Into Opera will support the three selected schools in considering this new framework and practically exploring how teaching for creative thinking and culture could be embedded into the curriculum. Throughout, our research partners will carefully evaluate the benefits this brings to the learning experience of pupils. 

 

Into Opera participated in a competitive application and interview process to secure this grant. Chair of Anguish’s Educational Foundation, Chris Herries, said the trustees were looking for “Life changing projects… which would break negative cycles, and which would enable long-term positive change in the lives of young people.”

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What will this Into Opera residency include? A bit more detail… 

 

• CPD focussed on Teaching for Creativity and Cultural Capital. This will include group workshops, talks with leading academics and researchers in creativity and education, classroom observations, one to one work with individual class teachers and regular consultancy with headteachers and governors.

 

• Bespoke support will be provided in developing a cultural strategy for your school along with the opportunity to revisit your curriculum to consider the role teaching for creativity could play. Advice and practical support will also be offered to schools to explore how to fundraise for projects to enhance the arts and cultural offering your school provides.

 

• Into Opera will develop arts projects as part of this residency which offer the school high quality and imaginative experiences in music, composition, performance, drama, creative writing, design, dance and more. Project ideas will be developed in consultation with the school but may include in-school concerts with visiting singers and musicians, writing, producing and staging children’s operas or even developing a community opera so as to involve the whole school community. Projects may also be developed to enhance a specific area of the curriculum across any subject. These projects will seek to build confidence, emotional resilience, a greater sense of personal identity and empathy. We will craft projects which encourage social interaction, that aim to improve wellbeing, develop communication skills and increase the ambition of all involved.  

 

• We will support each school in arranging trips both locally and on a national scale to ensure all children at these three schools engage with excellent live theatre (which may include opera, dance, drama, circus, classical music, jazz, musicals or puppetry).

 

• Into Opera has teamed up with Durham University and the University of East Anglia. These two universities will be working together to evaluate this project and to explore its impact. Case studies will be developed of the schools involved which will contribute to wider research currently taking place in the UK around creativity, education and access to arts and culture, building on the findings of the Durham Commission.