Whole Education

Lancasterian School is a special school which caters for pupils with a wide range of physical disabilities and severe medical conditions. By working with the organisation CCE, the school was able to devise a project which would develop their pupils’ interest in the world around them through a series of creative activities.

To begin with, pupils created characters together and drew them in simple paint packages on the computer. These pieces of artwork were then turned into a PowerPoint presentation, where other students created backgrounds and storyboarded ideas. Students then turned these stories into a play. Costumes were designed and created by the students and pupils took control of writing their own script and acting out a play. This play was then filmed and edited by the students.

Impact on young people

The coordinating teacher commented that the project had taught staff not to underestimate their pupils. One pupil, who had never used a computer paint package before, learned to use it and was able to concentrate for long periods of time. The staff had never realised he could do this, or that he had such a capacity for art. Staff are now encouraging him to develop this interest, and the student is taking a course in computer graphics. Another pupil was offered work experience by the Workers Film Association. Several pupils asked to have the programmes they learned to use put onto their laptops, so they could use them at home. This was a real step: many of the pupils at the school have memory recall issues and would not normally have had a clear recollection of events like these. Reticent or shy pupils became increasingly eager to be involved in the project and this eagerness carried through into other classes once the project finished, leaving a positive lasting legacy at the school.

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Website
creativitycultureeducation.org
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