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Realising Children's Creative Potential

by <object object at 0x7f385e93b580> — last modified 07/03/2025 12:23 PM
Realising Children's Creative Potential

Cultural Alliance Programme - research phase, 2024

The Cultural Alliance Programme is revolutionizing arts education for Key Stage 2 children in Lawrence Hill, offering free weekly dance and drama lessons that foster creativity, learning, and wellbeing

Empowering children through arts

With a mission to bridge gaps in arts access and address educational inequalities, the Cultural Alliance Programme offers students at Easton CE Academy, Hannah More Primary, and St. Nicholas of Tolentine schools the opportunity to engage in creative learning. Each week, every KS2 year group receives an hour-long session led by professional practitioners from Movema and ACTA. These classes are integrated into the school curriculum, aligning with each school’s themes and values, such as Easton CE Academy’s focus on "Belonging".

"I really missed our Cultural Alliance teachers over the holidays, but I’ve been practicing!"
Student comment

Learning from Term 1&2

The first term launched with great enthusiasm, as children eagerly met their new mentors from ACTA and Movema. The sessions quickly became a space for movement, self-expression, and relationship-building. Early takeaways included:

  • Building trust between practitioners and students
  • Identifying individual and group needs for tailored support
  • Adapting to varying levels of prior exposure to the arts
  • Embedding the values of the Cultural Alliance while implementing behaviour management strategies

    • As the project progressed, teachers were encouraged to actively participate in the sessions, moving beyond behaviour management to engaging in creative learning techniques themselves. This collaborative approach helped embed creative strategies throughout the school environment. Highlights of term two included:

  • Increased teacher participation in sessions
  • Regular evaluations to track student progress and adapt methods
  • Observations of disengaged students becoming fully involved
    • "There’s been so much creative expression and joyful connections happening in every session!"
    Cultural Alliance Practitioner, Movema

    Impact so far...

    The Cultural Alliance Programme has already made a tangible difference:

  • 438 children across three schools are benefiting from the programme
  • Every KS2 year group receives an hour of creative arts classes weekly
  • Tailored curriculum themes reinforce school values and foster engagement

    • Looking ahead

    As the programme moves into Term 3 the focus will shift towards measuring individual progress and ensuring long-term impact. A mid-January planning session will refine methods for tracking measurable change. Term Four will culminate in a student performance, showcasing their creative growth and inspiring future participants.

    Additionally, Trinity is collaborating with Professor Helen Manchester and Dr. Harriet Hand to co-design an evaluation framework. This will measure cultural value and assess the programme’s effectiveness in strengthening inclusion, attendance, and students' wider connectivity with learning.

    Funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the Cultural Alliance Programme continues to pave the way for inclusive, dynamic arts education in local schools.

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