Creative Partnerships now plays a core role in the development of teaching and learning across the curriculum

John Healey MP put politics on hold and went back to school for an important lesson in creativity.

The MP visited Bramley Grange School in Rotherham where the pupils and teachers have been working collaboratively with Creative Partnerships BDR to create an outdoor literacy space.

Mr Healey was taken on a tour of the school to have a look at the projects which include the ladybird shaped literacy space and a new science garden. He said: “This couldn’t be more important. I have seen for myself and heard from the kids who are full of ideas. The Creative Partnerships work has had a big impact on the pupils here and I can see that they love working with specialists like Dan and the poet who came to work with them.”

“The staff tell me that there is a real change in the levels of interest and a new found readiness to work together. Bramley Grange School is something of a model which I hope many schools to follow.”

The project was aimed at improving literacy in Year five and six boys in particular and both pupils and parents worked with local sculptor and entrepreneur, Dan Jones, 31, to create the ladybird space. Dan, who has worked in the creative sector internationally, commissioning pieces in Dubai and Korea, said: “This is a really good school. The children are more susceptible to working in a different way. They are confident that you will do what you say you are going to do and they are confident that they can help you deliver it.”

All pupils from Foundation to Year Six were involved in designing and working on the outdoor literacy area and Alan Wood, the Head Teacher at Bramley Grange said: “Creative partnerships have become an integral part of the curriculum.”

“It has given us the opportunity to develop a more exciting curriculum that is relevant for the children.

“This kind of thing can really set a child on the way. It is amazing the impact this has had on the children and Creative Partnerships now plays a core role in the development of teaching and learning across the curriculum.”

Creative Partnerships have provided the focus to deliver this enterprise education work at the school. The Music Factory and Sero Consulting are working to deliver these exciting projects across the region.