Launch of Creative Learning through the Arts – an Action Plan for Wales

Creative Learning through the Arts is the response of Welsh Government and the Arts Council of Wales to Professor Dai Smith’s independent report, Arts in Education in the Schools of Wales.

The Arts Council of Wales will be responsible for the implementation of the plan, working with partners in the regional education consortia, local authorities and arts organisations and practitioners.

Creative Learning through the Arts has three main aims:

• to improve attainment through creativity;
• to increase and improve arts opportunities in our schools; and
• to support our teachers and arts practitioners to develop their skills in order to deliver improved outcomes for learners.

The plan supports the Welsh Government’s three key education priorities – improving literacy, numeracy and reducing the impact of poverty on attainment.

An important element of the action plan will encourage schools across Wales, many from disadvantaged areas, to become part of a new Lead Creative Schools Scheme. This will bring creative practitioners – artists, musicians, actors, film makers, designers – into schools to work together with pupils and teachers.

In addition, an All-Wales Arts and Education Programme will be set up which will enable schools to draw on the knowledge and practice of artists, arts and cultural organisations to improve and complement teaching across the curriculum.

Four regional networks will also be established to share best practice, encourage partnership working, and provide training opportunities for arts and cultural organisations to tailor their offer to meet the needs of schools and the curriculum.

A new arts and creative learning portal will be developed later this year to communicate the various opportunities available.

In his recent report, Successful Futures, which followed an independent review of curriculum and assessment arrangements in Wales, Professor Graham Donaldson has reaffirmed the importance of creativity. Welsh Government is currently considering its response to Professor Donaldson’s call for fundamental change.

Read more on the Gov Wales website