Kirsty Williams, Cabinet Secretary for Education
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
Creative learning through the arts: an action plan for Wales 2015-2020 represents our commitment to providing an education which is rich in arts experiences, promotes creative skills and supports schools in developing practice that will prepare them for our new curriculum.
Today the Arts Council of Wales is publishing the Creative Learning Through the Arts: an Action Plan for Wales First Year Report: Academic year 2015/16. This report shows the fantastic achievements of all the teachers, creative professionals and learners who have engaged in the diverse and innovative activity that has taken place under the plan in its first year.
The report shows that the positive effect of this £20 million programme, which is being delivered in partnership with the Arts Council of Wales, is already being felt in schools across Wales. The plan has two workstreams, the Lead Creative Schools and the All Wales Arts and Education Offer.
The Lead Creative Schools scheme continues to support schools in giving them greater opportunities to develop creative learning and teaching methods and to share best practice supporting the development and delivery of the ‘Enterprising, Creative Contributors’ purpose of the new curriculum as well as the Area of Learning and Experience for the Expressive Arts. During the lifespan of the Lead Creative School scheme our aim is to get a third of schools in Wales participating in the scheme
The Creative Learning Through the Arts Plan is also helping the education workforce in Wales to prepare for delivering new and creative approaches to learning under the new curriculum. The plan supports this by placing creative practitioners in schools to work alongside teachers, developing new practice that can be shared across the sector.
I look forward to seeing the exciting practice and inspiring cultural experiences that the Creative Learning through the Arts Plan will provide in the years to come and hope that schools across Wales continue to take up the fantastic opportunities made available through it.