Year 3 of Creativity Collaboratives Nottingham
Sustaining the work
In the final year of the Creativity Collaboratives project we focused on how to sustain the work we’d done, concentrating on the theme of place which, for us, is the city of Nottingham. Like many other cities, Nottingham is experiencing tough times, financially and politically. This has made us even more determined to focus our efforts on working together to support and strengthen creativity in our city. Specifically, what this means is:
- Strengthening the partnerships between schools and the creative and cultural sector to develop and embed Nottingham’s Cultural Rucksack. The principle underpinning the cultural rucksack is that everyone who goes to school in Nottingham is entitled to access and enjoy the cultural and creative resources of their city. We’ve been turning this principle into a practical reality by establishing networks, making new connections, recognising complementary skills, planning together, creating a brilliant new directory and working with city transport. This year is about embedding and further developing this work. Crucially, it relies on
- Partnerships. We’ve established a strong community of practice between the 12 schools in the project and a wide array of creative practitioners. In Sept 2023 we hosted a huge professional development event in one of the city’s most vibrant cultural quarters, inviting in potential partners and establishing the links between the work of the Creativity Collaborative and other city initiatives, such as Nottingham’s bid to UNICEF for ‘Child Friendly City’ status and the work of the educational charity Ignite! which focuses on developing young people’s curiosity. This year we have been strengthening these civic, charitable and other partnerships through practical activities, sharing outcomes and making sure we understand one another’s work. We recognise, though, that these partnerships rely on
- Strengthening practice in the schools in our collaborative, building links local to each of the schools, working with other schools in the city (and beyond). This has been the central core of our work this year. We want to extend and embed the commitment to teaching for creativity within each of the schools, through sharing, modelling, working with school leaders and governors and with each school’s community. Like any city, Nottingham is diverse, with distinctive localities. Schools are central to these localities. So this year is also about strengthening local links on the estates and in the different areas our schools serve, building creative partnerships with other schools and organisations to celebrate local culture and creativity and appreciate our history and heritage.
Creative Practitioners
We have been working with a pool of creative practitioners who have experience working with schools and communities. Their specialities include theatre, dance, visual arts, environmental arts and technology.
Take a look at their profiles and how you can contact them here
Creative Habits of Learning
Could your school find this model useful?
This widely used model of creativity was developed by Professor Bill Lucas and colleagues at the University of Winchester.
It can help creative professionals and teachers to:
- have a shared language of creativity across the school community
- create a dialogue in schools about the value of developing creative skills
- consider how to build opportunities for creative skill development in learning
- develop their practice
- support reflection and goal setting with learners
Case Studies
Rosehill School, Year 1
Carrington Primary, Year 1
Rosehill School, Year 1
With thanks to Jemima Corrie for writing this case study and Sarah Bailey for creating and sharing a short video documenting their residency with Usha Mahenthrialingam. Read more
Welbeck Primary, Year 1
Carrington Primary, Year 1
Rosehill School, Year 1
Visual Artist Katie Sandoval worked with children at Welbeck School. "It’s okay if your work looks different to the person sitting next to you, it doesn’t mean it’s wrong” Read more
Carrington Primary, Year 1
Carrington Primary, Year 1
Carrington Primary, Year 1
Carrington collaborated with Mo Languir to create a Lunar Garden The children ‘went on moon walks’, painted ‘moon rocks’, made clay aliens and bought items from home in for a time capsule. Read more
Southglade Primary, Year 1
Old Basford, Creativity is Blossoming, Year 3
Carrington Primary, Year 1
Southglade Primary worked with artist Graham Elstone for their first Creativity Collaboratives residency, creating a sound installation histodisplay. Read more
Welbeck Primary, Creative Playtimes, Year 3
Old Basford, Creativity is Blossoming, Year 3
Old Basford, Creativity is Blossoming, Year 3
Welbeck Primary has embarked on a Creative Play project to nurture sporting, creative and imaginative skills at breaktime. Read more
Old Basford, Creativity is Blossoming, Year 3
Old Basford, Creativity is Blossoming, Year 3
Old Basford, Creativity is Blossoming, Year 3
Jayne Thomas, the Creativity Collaboratives Lead Teacher at Old Basford, uses horticultural images to discuss how teaching for creativity has taken root in her school. Read more
Rufford Primary School: What! He’s alive? Year 3
Ruth Greaves, the CC lead teacher at Rufford Primary, reflects upon their experience of Creativity Collaboratives over the last 3 years and a recent visit to Lakeside Arts (Djanogly Art Gallery). Read more
Rosehill School and Makers of Imaginary Worlds, Year 3
Sarah Bailey, CC lead at Rosehill, has created a video case study that joyfully expresses the impact on pupils and staff of collaborating with Makers of Imaginary Worlds. Click on the play button to watch.