PROJECT: THE ARTS

Project Leader: Mrs S Meek, Head Teacher, Joys Green Primary School
Schools in Cluster: English Bicknor C of E Primary, Drybrook, Joys Green Primary, Lydbrook Primary, Ruardean C of E Primary, Steam Mills Primary, Woodside Primary

The Brookdean cluster was formed in January 2001 as a result of several Heads attending the “Small Schools Conference”. It was recognised that the situation of our schools provided an ideal opportunity for a cluster group to develop. Since then the group has met regularly and plans were already in preparation for a similar project (on a smaller scale) to be initiated before our successful bid.

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT
Project Aim
· To develop the role of the creative arts within the cluster.

Project Objectives
· To raise levels of teaching performance and confidence.
· To provide opportunities for children from small schools to work together as a year group.
· To enhance the role of the class teacher within the creative arts.
· To improve and share resources between the schools in the cluster.
· To ensure joint planning for the project work.
· To raise pupil standards.
· To use existing links with local communities, artists, craft people and the local secondary school.

Project Focus for 2001/02
· The theme for the first year was African music.
· The choice of theme for the first year was specifically aimed at developing multicultural studies within the schools. Several of the cluster schools were in the process of creating links with schools in Africa and teachers’ visits to and from Africa took place during our project.
· Links from the project were extended into other areas of the curriculum such as ICT, Literacy and Geography.

Innovation
· The creative arts were given the emphasis that they deserved within the curriculum.
· In small schools the expertise and confidence of staff in the creative arts needed to be built upon. This was encouraged by linking with other staff and working with others who are specialists in their own subjects.
· The project provided the opportunity for children in very small year groups to collaborate with their peers from other small schools.
· Children in small schools, where numbers and funding issues make it more unlikely, needed to experience performances provided by professional artistes in a variety of situations.
· The project enabled the cluster to purchase the same percussion resources.
· It allowed Year 3 pupils from all the schools to participate in a joint workshop.
· The cluster employed a music specialist.

REPLICABILITY
Year 1 - African Music
· Engaged the services of a professional musician (Mary Edwards). Her role was to teach, advise and to ensure liaison between the staff and children of the cluster schools.
· Staff cluster twilight meeting where Mary introduced the project.
· Purchased percussion instruments and CDs for the workshops.
· Inset training for Year 3 teachers/music co-ordinators percussion instruments and CDs introduced.
· Children attended two workshops to practise songs for the final workshop.
· Final workshop held at Lakers Secondary School.
· Visiting musician held percussion workshops in the schools for the whole school.
· Trip to London to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for older pupils. 150 pupils and staff enjoyed this amazing experience.

Year 2 – From Sept 2002
Project Focus - Dance in the Forest
· We have engaged the services of a Dance teacher for two days a week during the Spring and Summer terms.
· The Dance teacher will provide inset for the staff by teaching three sample lessons for staff to watch using pupils from Key Stage One, Lower Key Stage Two and Upper Key Stage Two.
· Planning and resources will be provided for each staff member attending the inset.
· The co-ordinators will meet twice initially to provide input on the inset requirements and for a day at Hucclecote and to write a cluster scheme of work that can be adapted for individual schools.
· Dance workshops in all schools will provide all the children with a range of dance experiences –some from other cultures.
· The Year Three Staff will meet for half a day to discuss the dance project on the theme of “The Forest” .
· The Year 3 children from all the schools will work in small groups towards a final performance at the Forest Theatre. Parents will be invited to attend.
· A trip to see a professional performance in a theatre.

CONTRIBUTION TO STANDARDS
· The standard achieved by the children was high.
· The levels of staff confidence were raised.
· Music received a much higher profile during the first year as has Dance during the second year.
· It raised expectations of both the children and the staff by the opportunity of working with an enthusiastic Music specialist.
· There were many positive comments from parents following the final music workshop.

CONCLUSION
· There is no doubt the project exceeded our expectations. We were able to provide and enrich the curriculum for children who would not normally have these sorts of opportunities. The Staff now have the confidence to use many of these ideas in their own schools.
· Finally the trip to London left a lasting impression on all the children and a few members of staff! For many of the children it was a once in a lifetime experience, that they are still talking about.