Swansea City schools lead the way in the arts

THE Leonardo Effect is helping young entrepreneurs at a Swansea school become high achievers in their enthusiasm for learning and the creative arts.

Ynystawe Primary is one of two Swansea schools which have been praised in a new Estyn report highlighting best practice from across Wales in teaching and learning in the creative arts at Key Stage 2 including art and design, dance, drama and music.

Ynystawe Primary School and Christchurch Church in Wales Primary have both been hailed as examples of best practice in Wales.

Cllr Jen Raynor, Swansea Council Cabinet member for Education, said: “I am very proud to see two of our schools recognised for their work in creative arts.”

“They are among a large number of both primary and secondary schools in this city who are not only helping pupils achieve in the arts but also utilising those sessions to develop a whole range of skills and confidence which will boost attainment across all subjects.”

Ynystawe Primary School, for example, was highlighted for the way it utilises art to engage pupils in enterprise and learning, boosting skills across the curriculum utilising a project known as the Leonardo Effect developed in Ireland.

Teachers also used Swansea’s rich industrial heritage as a resource to develop the creative arts, for example drawing on the local history of copper mining. And that’s been reflected in the work of the school’s enterprise group which recently designed and made clay plates sold at the Mission Gallery, local craft shops and in school.

Pupils’ work has recently been exhibited in the National Gallery in London and in the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea.

Estyn found the projects had a positive impact on creating good levels of self-esteem and confidence, on standards attained in the creative arts and created a whole-school ethos of working together towards a common goal.

Head Teacher Helen Houston-Phillips said: “As one of the pilot schools for the Leonardo Effect, we have worked to ensure that our children’s motivation to learn is very high, creativity is promoted and their imaginations are developed. The approach is innovative, challenging and standards are clearly raised.”

Chair of Governing Body Mike Hedges AM added: “On behalf of the governing body I am pleased the high quality of teaching and learning in the arts has been recognised. Ynystawe has always planned imaginative, creative and challenging opportunities for pupils to use their developing skills, across subject boundaries.”

At Christchurch (C.I.W.) Voluntary Aided Primary School pupils with emotional or behavioural problems are given the opportunity to take part in music therapy to explore their feelings through music and learn strategies for managing their own behaviour.

The music therapy aims to enable pupils to deal with their difficulties and give them increased confidence and improved self-esteem, which in turn impacts on attainment and levels of engagement.