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In January 2022, Fusion (Barnsley’s Local Cultural Education Partnership) introduced its first Creative Schools Programme.
Five primary schools from across the borough embarked on their Artsmark journey together, led by Fusion’s Schools Arts Network Lead (who is also an Assistant Head at a local primary) and the Network Manager. Barnsley is the 38th most deprived local authority in England, out of 317, with almost two-thirds of Barnsley now classed as ‘deprived’ and 33% of children living in poverty (up from 25%, as identified in Barnsley Central MP Dan Jarvis’s 2016 report).
The aim of the programme was to support settings in embedding the arts, culture, creativity and heritage across the whole curriculum. Schools were eligible for a £750 bursary (kindly funded via The Cooper Gallery Trustees) to cover both the £500 Artsmark registration fee, as well as £250 towards arts materials.
To launch the programme, the schools undertook their Artsmark Development Training together, providing the opportunity for them to meet each other online, as well as getting to know the Schools Arts Network Lead and Network Manager.
Participating schools had access to a number of bespoke CPD sessions:
- February 2022 - Lisa Jagger from Straightforward Fundraising delivered an online Creative Fundraising session to provide advice and training around applying for additional funding for arts and creative provision within schools. Feedback included: “The session was really helpful - thank you so much and please pass along our thanks to Lisa for her support.”
- March 2022 - A session to understand the schools’ CPD aspirations and where they were looking to develop their expertise. The Arts Network Lead for Schools and the Network Manager shared information about the creative resources, programmes and opportunities within Barnsley that could support the schools in realising their aspirations, Feedback from this session: “We were supported through sessions that helped us to develop our Statement of Commitment that would fulfil the Artsmark criteria but also incorporate our school improvement priorities in this area. Fusion and its partners gave us an understanding of what was available and how they could support with our vision for Artsmark.”
- April 2022 - An online music session hosted by Barnsley’s Music Hub to explore the Model Music Curriculum and provide resources and inspiration, along with the opportunity to share ideas and ask questions. Feedback included: “This music CPD session was a fantastic opportunity to explore the Model Music Curriculum in further depth, with a range of ideas and resources provided to plan and deliver music to the highest standard in school. It was very useful and purposeful and I have already shared some of the resources with my staff to support their teaching of music.”
- July 2022 - The schools were invited to an artist-led monoprinting CPD session at The Cooper Gallery, supplemented by a resource sheet for teachers to enable them to replicate it in school. Attendees were then treated to a tour of the museum from the Collections and Exhibitions Manager, followed by an overview of Barnsley Museums’ Schools offer (from the Formal Learning and Access Officer). Feedback included: “It will give me confidence to teach children and let them explore and find their own creativity.”
One of the wider benefits of the programme has been how the schools have engaged in many of the broader Fusion and creative partner offer, such as;
- Fusion’s quarterly Creative Exchanges, which brings the arts and cultural sector together with the education sector to share inspiration, ideas and resources
- Fusion’s Arts Award Explore Ambassadors Programme (in which over 200 children from across Barnsley gained their Arts Award Explore in the summer of 2023), which three of the Creative Schools participated in. As well as showcasing the children’s achievement and instilling a sense of pride, the celebration event was a fantastic opportunity for parental engagement. A parent commented, “It is a honour to be invited and to see our child’s work he has achieved.”
- Three of the schools were also able to join us for the Fusion Network Meeting in February, in which 50 cross-sector partners came together to plan the inaugural Festival of Joy, which aimed to showcase the artistic talents and achievements of Barnsley’s children and young people, as well as promoting the value of the arts and culture.
- In addition to helping Fusion to plan the festival, many of them participated in the events, which included the Fantasy and Fables Arts Challenge (in collaboration with Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra and author and illustrator James Mayhew).
The overall comments from the schools reflect the impact of the programme for the school:
“We have actively engaged and benefited from being involved in Artsmark with the Creative Schools Network. We’ve had the opportunity to work with the Fusion Arts Award Ambassadors Programme and attend the Festival of Joy, which was inspiring to see the outcomes produced by the young people of Barnsley. Our staff have benefitted from attending CPD offered by the Barnsley Music Hub to implement the new Model Music Curriculum throughout school, sessions provided staff with the opportunity to develop their repertoire of skills and knowledge. This support also transcends across to the Art & Design Curriculum, through engagement with The Cooper Art Gallery our teaching staff attending a monoprinting CPD session to support them in planning and resourcing an upcoming Art & Design unit of work. The continuous opportunities that have arisen throughout our involvement with the Artsmark have been brilliant, they have provided us with bespoke CPD as well as wider Arts experiences and opportunities within the community.” (Headteacher)
“As a school we feel we were given such an amazing opportunity to be part of the creative schools programme… [it] has really enabled us to raise the profile of the arts within our curriculum and has inspired all children to achieve their full potential. They are enjoying the arts and all that it has to offer.” (Teacher)
The programme has also enabled schools to come together, forge working relationships and share ideas between them as part of a network.
“We found working in partnership and completing training with other schools really useful to be able to share ideas and support each other in this journey.”
An additional (and very valuable) benefit of the programme has been that it has been a conduit to true partnership working; for as much as Fusion has supported the schools, their input, feedback and ideas have been invaluable to the partnership. They have enabled us to pilot CPD sessions, understand wider CPD aspirations, gaps and barriers, which in turn have supported us in developing our wider schools programme.
We are delighted with the success of the programme and look forward to continuing to work with these schools. The impact of their commitment to embedding creativity throughout the curriculum will not only be felt by the 1,396 pupils currently attending the settings, but by their families and communities as well.
Find out more about Fusion’s work here.
To search for a Local Cultural Education Partnership near you, click here.
