Curious Minds

Success of West Cheshire Curious Minds Enquiry School Programme

Pupils from Guilden Sutton Primary School in Chester have been working with Kevin Dyer at Action Transport Theatre on a devised piece of theatre. This is part of the West Cheshire Creative Partnerships Enquiry School Programme funded by Curious Minds focusing on Learning Outside the Classroom, in partnership with the University of Chester.

Through this project the pupils have looked at how they can develop a sense of global citizenship and develop a better understanding of the diversity of our society and world.

Over the last month, the year 5 pupils have worked with Kevin and Lily Earle – a second year trainee primary school teacher on placement with the theatre company from the University of Chester – to create a performance inspired by a new play being written by Kevin called The Girl Who Lives Under the Piano which is set in Iran.

After learning about Iranian culture and how different it can be for children their own age growing up in the country, the pupils created a short play that they performed to an audience of parents, family and friends on Thursday 26 May at the school.

Jane Evans-Woodason, the Programme Manager for Curious Minds has commented on the project:

There were really meaningful discussions about a different culture (Iran), exploration of the global context, and what it means to be a family within a different culture. The pupils were engaged and absorbed, which was evident in their performances and behaviour. It was brilliant, inspiring, fun, moving and truly educational.”

Kathy Crowe, Headteacher at Guildon Sutton Primary School in Chester has said:

This has been an amazing experience for our children and staff. Being part of a Curious Minds project has given us a great opportunity to benefit from the expertise of inspirational people from other walks of life. It has been thought provoking, challenging and fun. As a result, it will have a lasting impact on future projects in our school.”

Jude Bird Creative Agent has said

This project has been exemplary in modelling partnership working between Curious Minds, Action Transport Theatre Companny, Guilden Sutton C of E Primary School and Chester University and as a consequence creative learning has been of the highest order for all concerned". 

By Jessica Egan - Action Transport Theatre