The Creative Curriculum
What we seek to do within the classroom is provide open-ended tasks with a focus on problem solving, discussion, collaboration & imaginative thinking that leads to the following “creative behaviours”:
questioning and challenging
envisaging what might be
exploring ideas, keeping options open
reflecting critically on ideas, actions and outcomes
making connections and seeing relationships
The Creative Curriculum approach is a widely accepted best practise for the teaching of Gifted and Talented Children. At Eversholt, we believe that all our children can benefit from methods and style of teaching that stimulate, and start the development of these higher order thinking skills so we apply it to all of our pupils in an individually tailored way.
The Creative Curriculum takes the National Curriculum content, and uses a “thematic” (topic or theme) approach to teach multiple learning objectives across different subject areas. In avoiding narrow subject based lessons, pupils have the opportunity to see linkage between subject areas and learning objectives. We use problem solving and open ended tasks, drama and role play to help children see ‘the whole picture’. They are helped to recognise relationships and patterns in their learning, and they gain a deeper understanding.
We never lose sight of the importance of knowledge and skills. The Higher Order skills have to be built on a solid foundation - pupils are only able to engage creatively and purposefully with the challenges they encounter if they have a solid base of knowledge and skills. For this reason some subjects are taught wholly or in part “standalone”. These are Numeracy, Literacy (Spellings & Grammar), some Science, RE & PE.
We intend that children will leave us with exceptional standards in reading, writing, numeracy & science together with emerging skills in creative & critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, research, analysis & communication. We seek to foster self-motivation, excitement & love of learning. This is key to the aspirations we have for our school, and we have challenged ourselves to become recognised as a centre of excellence in the delivery of a creative curriculum.
Our program includes adventure training through a residential trip at the start of year 4, and a week-long France trip in the summer term of Year 4.
