Create Aspire Transform

Portfolio:The Create Aspire Transform (CAT) programme of visual-arts focussed Creative Professional Development (CPD) was established to facilitate opportunities to test approaches that increase cultural leadership; this held a broader aim to engage North Northumberland schools with the organisation Berwick Visual Arts (BVA). Thomas’ pedagogical research investigates the attitudes and approaches of the artist facilitator within artist-led learning programmes. For CAT, Thomas devised bespoke visual arts focused, creative training to support teacher confidence, informing a wider programme of school cross-curricular activities, commissioning artists to work with participant teachers to develop innovative processes to embed cultural learning back in schools. Within the field of art education and gallery learning, CAT presents a useful case study that can be used for the wider education sector. Funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the research carried out by Thomas builds on a wide body of current research of national and international significance; a key objective is to determine the value of cultural engagement for teaching and learning in schools to facilitate high-quality education through unique opportunities that engage learners with memorable, inspiring practices that enable children to learn new skills, increase knowledge and develop cultural capital (CLA 2019, Durham Commission 2019). Using data collected over a two-year period, including CPD sessions, along with semi-structured interviews with participating teachers, Thomas collated evaluated the programme and wrote the Create Aspire Transform report; her findings identify heightened teacher confidence as a result of the CPD along with positive impact for pupils and wider school communities. Seeking to influence school leadership and local authorities, the report makes recommendations to improve practice in schools and inform strategic programming in cultural organisations; this contributes new knowledge to the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Arts Based Learning Programme and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Art, Craft and Design in Education.