Reflections on a Creative Partnerships journey

Marish Primary School, Slough

 

In the final few weeks of the 2008/09 school year, we reflect on Marish Primary School's Creative Partnerships journey as they come to the end of their time in the programme and think about thlearning that has taken place.

 

The Marish community became involved in the Creative Partnerships programme when two schools on the same site merged. During this time, the schools worked alongside a range of creative partners who supported staff and young people during the transition, exploring identity, relationships and the challenges of change.

 

Becoming one of Creative Partnerships Focus Schools, Marish directed attention to continuing professional development: creative approaches to teaching to engage young people in their learning. Marish was one of a number of Slough schools in the Creative Partnerships programme that met half termly to network and share good practice.

 

The ambition for their Change School programme has been to develop world-class curriculum.

 

In its first year, the programme focussed on developing a model for staff planning for creativity - three discreet days per year team across the year.

 

Deputy Head and CP co-ordinator Rachel Morgan reflected that the programme had a very good impact on staff and student motivation and enthusiasm.

 

"We all find it exciting." Year 4 young person

 

"This whole programme is an experiment. Children are learning that trial and error is what if going to make this work. Would I try something new again? Yes I would. I am happy to try new things and learn new things." Year 4 teacher

Catherine Lambert and Dave Farey from Troublemaker Theatre Company worked in partnership with Marish Primary School from January - July 2008. The programme challenged the company to refine their practice and consider their use of professional language for young people. The company now lead on Extended Schools' activities at Marish.

 

This year, as a result of ongoing reflection, Marish defined their broad enquiry to ‘How can a focus on language skills develop pupil attainment in writing?'

Storyteller/writer Elaine Joseph has worked alongside Year 3, Year 1 and Reception staff and young people during the school year on focussed action research projects. She commented "Children are so excited and motivated by activities/stimulus that they really can't wait to write it down."

In the final term of the programme, Marish have been developing a permanent structure in the school playground as a legacy of their creative learning journey and an inspiration for future work.

 

We wish Marish Primary all the very best and look forward to how Creative Junction might work with them in the future.