Creative Schools: what's happening out there? - National Theatre Wales Community2024-03-29T09:26:54Zhttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/forum/topics/creative-schools-what-s-happening-out-there?groupUrl=rethinking-education&xg_source=activity&feed=yes&xn_auth=noGood points made by both of y…tag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2018-04-16:3152760:Comment:2761052018-04-16T19:34:50.879ZMartin Dawshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/MartinDaws
<p>Good points made by both of you above.</p>
<p>I'm in North Wales and have been very engaged in projects as a CP. I've delivered 4 x high school projects, 3 x jnr school projects, 2 x special school projects over the 3 years so far. I've also been part of the team delivering the training to artists and teachers.</p>
<p>Firstly, I would like to assert that the LCS scheme is a great investment in practitioners. I was on a plateau previously, very experienced (20 yrs+) in lots of settings, but…</p>
<p>Good points made by both of you above.</p>
<p>I'm in North Wales and have been very engaged in projects as a CP. I've delivered 4 x high school projects, 3 x jnr school projects, 2 x special school projects over the 3 years so far. I've also been part of the team delivering the training to artists and teachers.</p>
<p>Firstly, I would like to assert that the LCS scheme is a great investment in practitioners. I was on a plateau previously, very experienced (20 yrs+) in lots of settings, but predominantly delivering the same stuff over and over again to different Learners. This scheme has broken me out of that cycle and allowed me to challenge myself in lots of new ways, particularly through collaborating with other CPs and Teachers. I've become a much better collaborator, have learnt serious new production skills, and developed stronger ability to plan medium term projects. It has actually been a very positive experience for me and has made me a better practitioner.</p>
<p>I would also like to say that I think it is a great investment in the Learners who have benefited greatly from participating in the project - as we knew they would!</p>
<p>My main observation of the project falling short of it's aims is in the up-skilling of Teachers. I feel that I have failed to really empower most of the Teachers that I have worked with in the scheme. This has been predominantly due to a lack of strong teamwork between myself and the Teachers: your point above about training together is excellent Jo. It's exactly what we need to build a relationship which we can really collaborate together in. Some Teachers aren't confident to engage creatively, some aren't really motivated, and some are unsure about where the line between them and us is drawn. This takes time to work out, and sometimes it doesn't get resolved to my satisfaction.</p>
<p>So, I would rate my CP experience as great, the Learner experience as very beneficial, and the Teacher experience as in need of big improvements if we are to achieve our aims of empowering Teachers to deliver engaging and innovative Creative Education.</p>
<p>The project that I feel has been most successful had Teachers who were strongly motivated and already creatively engaged and bang up for it. We could work closely together and they took lots of leadership. This is where I would like other projects to get to.</p>
<p>Re training. we're given a script and we deliver it as best we can. I would like to see some innovations to make the training a more immersive and creative experience that reflects the ethos of the project, rather than being so didactic in parts, but the script seems pretty fixed. I would also add that while I am a practising critic of the training, it's easier to critique it from the outside than it is to change it from the inside. And that, we've had some very positive feedback from participants we've delivered to who feel they benefited.</p>
<p>I was unsure about the interviews for free stuff - but I've done it, and found schools I'm a really good match with through interviewing for them. I think having the CP deliver a short session is a really effective way for the school to see what we do and make a more informed choice. I view it as an industry pitch, and I wouldn't expect to get payment for pitching a show to a production company. I do think it would be considerate to offer travel expenses to interviewees, as I have travelled up to 180 miles (round trip) to interview.</p>
<p>I really do think it's a great time to be a freelance creative educator in Wales. And I am genuinely grateful to ACW for putting the scheme together. I have never before been in a position to look forward 6 months and know how much I would be earning. This is an unprecedented security in my 22 years of freelance creative education and I value it. The scheme can improve (can't we all). Hopefully we'll get a chance to have some executive input to facilitate that improvement, but that is a bit of a tough one to crack.</p> Well Bill, well done for rais…tag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2018-04-16:3152760:Comment:2761022018-04-16T15:39:51.780Zjo munton-vagabondi puppetshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/jomuntonvagabondipuppets
<p>Well Bill, well done for raising the issues. Cos let’s face it where else is there to do so. Where is the dedicated platform for info, invites to tender, sharing, questions, answers? All that is needed to maintain such a wide reaching national project. It seems a platform would solve all the issues to do with the confusion, the nepotism and the issues with distance, access and geography. </p>
<p>As artsits we have been taught the value and necessity of constructive criticisms and…</p>
<p>Well Bill, well done for raising the issues. Cos let’s face it where else is there to do so. Where is the dedicated platform for info, invites to tender, sharing, questions, answers? All that is needed to maintain such a wide reaching national project. It seems a platform would solve all the issues to do with the confusion, the nepotism and the issues with distance, access and geography. </p>
<p>As artsits we have been taught the value and necessity of constructive criticisms and constant evaluation so let’s hope all concerned can understand this need. Many of us have been running projects or years and the most beneficial learning comes from listening truly with deep consideration to any criticisms as well a praise. </p>
<p>Ive always struggled with the whole teachers not being present, either physically or mentally for projects. I solved this myself by trying to provide Cpd that really let the teachers understand the importance of their involvement. It is a disconcerting place for many teachers not to be at the helm. But it’s a different role, they get to uniquely witness their classes from a side angle - really beneficial. I have suggested this to all the projects I have done but they have spent the budget for training on the provided. I would suggest that teachers and artsists go on really good participatory training together. They would come back ( if it was run well) already sining of the same sheet. Teachers going on training that we know nothing of does not help. Cos each of us have our own training, pedagogy and style. That’s what they need to understand not what others have done. </p>
<p>I must admit the artist training was quite substandard, specially cos most people in that room could have led it better. We were actually subjected to someone standing with a PowerPoint and reading of paragraphs of info. This is an issue in Wales anyway. Bill can you not lead some training. I remember a one day workshop you lead years ago that was more engaging and useful. </p>
<p>I has defo been less work available - I’ve heard that from various people. On the plus side I’ve been working with at least two schools who raised money elsewhere- cos they didn’t want those nasty forms. </p>
<p>I’ve lead in both primary and secondary and it’s true secondary struggle with their timetables. What can we do about that? </p>
<p>The other thing that I found very strange is the free workshops as interviews. Specially for those who live rurally and are already paying a lot for travel. </p>
<p>Back to the platform. I have really enjoyed the projects I have been doing this time round - where do we share their work, where do we celebrate. Could there be a national, regional , local celebration. Why is the celebration event in london and not somewhere more accessible? </p>
<p>All I know there is so many skilled work going on out there. And am also fascinating by the debate of how we can best support this. </p>
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