The Paul Hamlyn Foundation (PHF) has announced the Active Learning Trust as one of six organisations to receive funding from the Teacher Development Fund to deliver effective arts-based teaching in primary schools.
The PHF supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to receive more opportunities through the arts. The funding will be used to train teachers and school leaders to use arts-based approaches across multiple subjects to help build students confidence, knowledge and skills.
Gary Peile, Chief Executive of the Active Learning Trust, commented “We are delighted to be one of six organisations nationally to be awarded the Teacher Development Fund by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. I want to thank Wendy James and the team at Sidegate Primary School for leading this successful bid.”
“The Active Learning Trust believes that all of our pupils have the right to an excellent education, no matter their background. This funding will allow us to invest further in our continued professional development offer and train teachers to better understand how to deliver arts-based approaches to learning. This will help to break down barriers to learning that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds may face and enable us to engage our students through a mix of learning approaches."
Within the bid for the funding, the Trust outlined its plans to develop a continued professional development programme called Active Learning in and through the arts. This focuses on art-based learning for teachers and aims to reduce the barriers to learning for disadvantaged pupils. The Trust will also have support from artist experts including DanceEast, who will provide mentoring, support and coaching for staff to help with planning and evaluation of the programme.
Sidegate Primary School will establish a network of pupils, teachers, external artistic organisations and school leaders to help establish the programme within the Trust, ensuring its longevity and sustainability to help students for years to come.
Morin Sinclair, Chief Executive of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation said “Learning through the arts can engage and inspire young people, support key educational outcomes and develop skills that prepare them for the next phase of their lives. For many young people, particularly those experiencing the most disadvantage, the only opportunity to gain access to arts education is at school. That’s why we are delighted to announce the six partnerships that have a received a grant from our Teacher Development Fund. We were impressed by the quality of applications and look forward to seeing how the projects equip teachers with the skills and confidence needed to provide quality and impactful education and learning through the arts.”
For more information on the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, please visit www.phf.org.uk
