Curious Minds

What Ofsted is saying about Curious Minds

In its 2010 report ‘Learning: creative approaches that raise standards’, Ofsted recognises that creative teaching and learning in schools improves attainment as well as the long-term personal development of children and young people. Ofsted visited 44 schools for the report, observing creative approaches that had a ‘perceptible and positive impact on pupils' personal development and on their preparation for life beyond school’.

 

They also recognised the benefits of opportunities for pupils to learn from external partners: ‘All schools should, from the Early Years, Foundation Stage upwards, ensure that pupils are actively encouraged to ask questions, hypothesise and share their ideas and should support and sustain partnerships that have the potential to develop pupils of all abilities as confident and creative learners’

Curious Minds offers opportunities to do just that.

Having visited four Curious Minds schools in a 2006 inspection, Ofsted commented: ‘Creative practitioners were very well trained and well matched to school priorities and needs. Often the outcomes of programmes could be seen in changed attitudes and behaviours... it included teachers who previously lacked belief in their own creativity and ability to inspire creativity in others, and pupils who were previously unconvinced by approaches to learning or the value of education’

The majority of schools Curious Minds has worked with for a sustained period of time have seen an increase in their inspection grade - and all have at least maintained their grade, while making other significant gains, as the following individual school inspection comments demonstrate:

Whitefield Infant School and Nursery Unit, 2008:

‘Much learning is undertaken through lively, practical first hand experiences. Involvement in a ‘Creative Partnership’ provides pupils with engaging opportunities to work with artists and musicians. Excellent partnerships, especially those that promote creativity, contribute significantly to pupils’ academic and personal development’

St Gabriel's Church of England Primary School, July 2010:

‘Involvement with Creative Partnerships helps the staff to very effectively use educational visits and visitors to bring subjects to life. In this way the links made between subjects such as poetry, music and mathematics are highly imaginative and make learning relevant for pupils of all ages and abilities. In turn this supports the 'Every Child Matters' agenda exceptionally well’

Tauheedul Islam Girls High School, March 2010:

‘The curriculum is outstanding in the way that it supports excellent outcomes for students and is very well tailored to their individual needs. The school has made improvements since the last inspection and found creative ways of delivering music, design and technology and art in cooperation with external partners’

Eastway Primary School:

‘Senior leaders have ensured good improvement since the last inspection and, partly as a result of a close partnership with an external provider; have greatly enhanced the quality of teaching and learning and of the curriculum’