3:28pm Tuesday 5th January 2010
YOUNG people are learning skills for life alongside the three Rs at Thornleigh Salesian College.
The school in Sharples has introduced a new creative curriculum for Year Seven pupils to develop their skills in enterprise, self-awareness and team work.
The course is delivered in a special converted “creative space” and is made up of six modules studied over half a term.
Modules include “Our Town”, a geography and history-based project to develop pupils’ knowledge, understanding and ownership of their home town; Thornleigh Kitchen, in which young people learn business and marketing skills through working with restaurants in The Valley in Bolton and The Olympics, in which youngsters take on the role of a country bidding to host the event and later the role of a new team reporting on the games.
Some learning takes place outside of the classroom, for example at Thornleigh’s new outdoor performance and sheltered spaces or through visits which are off the school site.
Since introducing the creative curriculum in September, teachers say they have seen a difference in pupils’ attitudes.
Assistant headteacher, Mick Johnston, said: “Students are more upbeat and showing a stronger sense of purpose during their creative curriculum sessions.
“More students are taking an interest and staying behind after school for extra activities. Teachers have noticed a change in their students’ readiness to learn and the way they are transferring these improved skills in their other lessons too, by taking more initiative and working better in groups.”
Headteacher Alison Burrowes said: “It was really important that this new approach enhanced the curriculum and ensured that attainment at all levels was not affected.
“We have put so much hard work and time into developing our new creative curriculum and we will continue to closely monitor its success and how it can be further improved.”
She stressed that there has been no reduction in the curriculum time allocated to other subjects. In fact it has enabled the school to increase time allocated to the core subjects of English and Mathematics.
The creative sessions and area have been showcased to council officers and leaders from other secondary schools as an example of a “transformational” learning environment. Education chiefs meet every week to share ideas how to use the Building Schools for the Future —which will see schools across Bolton undergo a multi-million revamp — to transform learning and the school environment.
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