The Durham Commission has just launched a report and recommendations for the promotion of creativity in education in England.
Posted: 10/03/2022
What is the Durham Commission?
The Durham Commission on Creativity and Education is a collaboration
between Arts Council England and Durham University that aims to identify
ways in which creativity, and specifically creative thinking, can play a
larger part in the lives of young people from birth to the age of 19,
both within and beyond the current education system.
Crucially, the Commission hopes to find out what already works well and where there might be gaps that can be addressed.
Key research questions and themes
The benefits of a creative education have been looked at within the following themes:
- Economic growth, skills, and social mobility
- Community identity and social engagement
- Personal fulfilment and wellbeing
The key research questions were:
- Is developing a creative education which promotes creative thinking
and practice of benefit why is it important, and is there currently a
gap in the current education system in the provision of this? - What are the benefits, with particular reference to the themes, and
what part does thinking and acting creatively particularly play in the
development of these? - How do we teach/encourage creative thinking and practice, and create the conditions for how these benefits can be realised?
What are the main recommendations?
Cultural Learning Alliance have written a very useful article about the Commission and the findings from the Report. Their outline of the recommendations is below. They have also outlined what they think is great about the report, the key themes and what is missing or of concern.
Main recommendations include:
- The development of a pilot national network of Creativity
Collaboratives established through joint working between DfE, the Arts
Council and education trusts - Better recognition, research and evaluation of teaching for
creativity in schools and a recognition of this teaching in the Ofsted
inspection process - A clearer focus on digital technology and its role in a creative education
- Inclusion of the arts as standard in the curriculum to key stage 3, and a National Plan for Cultural Education
- A focus on early years learning, including training for the workforce
- Creative opportunities out of school hours and in the world of work
At the time of the launch, no ringfenced funding had been announced.
FULL RECOMMENDATIONS HERE
How should Lewisham respond to this report?
What does it mean for us and the borough’s children and young poeple?
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