Project Brief 

LEAD on the development, and implementation of, a new curriculum that placed creativity and the arts at the centre. 

DEVELOP a week long immersive, multi-disciplinary creative learning programme that engaged the wider community.

What I did: Secured Creative Director,  Project Managed, Delivered Professional Development for Teachers, Co-developed Identity Curriculum with external expert.

“The ‘Identity’ theme explores the diversity of the students in the school and involves the community providing a rich, board and innovative curriculum.”
— Ann Sydney, Lead Inspector, No. 341126 OFSTED
GFW

Teacher Inset, Leadership, Actor-in-Role, Adinkra, Dance, Jewellery Workshops, Cultural Exhibition

Approach

SOURCE an external expert - Trevor Blackwood, Creative Director from Nomad Creative Consultancy to consult on, and re-direct the organisation's approach to understanding the cultural heritage of the community of learners.   

COMMISSION the development of a Global Focus week to provide an immersive cultural experience for students, teachers and the wider community. 

DELIVER the Professional Development programme for teachers to enhance understanding and cultural awareness. 

INTRODUCE different parental engagement strategies that would engage the diverse multi-cultural community. 

DEVELOP an 'Identity Programme' to integrate innovative creative strategies and cultural approaches into the curriculum. 

“Jack really enjoyed the Ghana week project as he had a chance to sample a different culture, see how other people lived. There should be more projects like this because there will be less ignorance in the community.”
— Linda, Parent

The Creative Elements

  • Welcome Event 
  • Professional Development Programme
  • Teaching Resource
  • Workshops: Developing Leadership Skills, Actor-in-Role, Adinkra Symbols, Dance, Jewellery and Drumming 
  • Cultural Exhibition
  • Final Event for Wider Community
 
“Cross-curricular links were explicitly made with core curriculum areas: mathematics, English and Science. ”
— Sarah Nunn, Learning Consultant

Impact

IMPROVED teachers' and students' cultural awareness of the rich history and heritage of Ghana and the African continent.

RAISED the confidence of learners with English as a second language. Their mother tongue was being respected and used extensively in the programme of workshops.

INSPIRED students to complete independent research at home about their culture to find similarities and differences with the Ghanaian heritage. 

POSITIVE African-Caribbean male role-models enriched the learning experience among disengaged learners who felt valued and inspired by the experts creativity and professionalism.  

INSPIRED hesitant parents to enter the school environment as their culture was valued and visibly leading a major programme. 

“OFSTED, the UK School Inspection Body, highly recommended the Global Focus week concept and subsequent Identity Curriculum as a model of good practice. The programme fostered respect for, and promoted the value of, all participants learning from an alternative cultural perspective.

This bold approach inspired a new form of creativity across the curriculum and demonstrated that an intercultural approach to the curriculum can advance learning for all learners.”
— Sarah Nunn, Project Manager