Call for wider input in creative curriculums

A greater participation of industry, science and design in the teaching of creativity in schools has been called for in an Education and Skills Committee report published last week.

The Creativity Partnerships and the Curriculum report states that, while there are clear examples of work funded by Creative Partnerships – the Government’s creativity programme for schools and young people – involving sectors such as industry, science and design, this is an area in need of further development.

A closer relationship between Creative Partnerships and bodies such as the Design Council and the royal societies would ensure creativity in all professional domains could be used to stimulate the sector in schools, it adds.

Suggestions for development include building a systematic collection of students’ views and experiences of creative learning programmes, and firmly embedding creative approaches in the wider curriculum.

However, according to the report, evidence of support for creative approaches must be analysed more rigorously and is currently ‘tentative’. It also accepts that funding levels may never be such that all schools can access individual, tailored support and that funding for Creative Partnerships may be time-limited.

Lesley Morris, head of design skills at the Design Council, says, ‘Sending more professional designers into schools will help nurture important transferable skills in students. These skills are increasingly rewarded in the workplace and will become more critical in the global economy. We will work with Creative Partnerships to develop a distinct design strand to the existing scheme.’