New report encourages creative thinking

Published 29/03/2023.  Last updated 04/10/2023

Cover of Creative Wellbeing reportA new report highlighting the innovative ways that school pupils got creative to support their wellbeing has published.

Education Scotland and Creative Scotland established the Creative Wellbeing Fund to support learners’ wellbeing through arts-based learning in response to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic was having on children and young people.

Schools and learning communities across Scotland were invited to submit proposals for a share of the £90k funding, based on a challenge their learners were facing and which an arts partner could help them address through innovative ideas and creative approaches to learning and teaching.

Gayle Gorman, Education Scotland’s Chief Executive and Chief Inspector of Education said: "It was wonderful to see participating schools embracing the new thinking and innovative approaches that evolved through the collaborations with artists. The artists and educators formed strong partnerships as they learned together what had the most positive impact on learners.

"With learners’ mental health and wellbeing a top priority across Scotland, this report is valuable in highlighting how innovative arts-based approaches can encourage participants to share their ideas and explore new possibilities, making a more inclusive and engaging experience for educators and learners."

Six schools were selected from across Scotland, one from each of the six Regional Improvement Collaboratives (RICs), and each was matched with an arts partner to work collaboratively with them and their wider learning communities during the 2021-22 school year.

Among those chosen was Gigha Primary School in Argyll and Bute. as the pandemic resulted in children from rural communities becoming significantly isolated. The school wanted to explore how engagement in the arts could provide learners with opportunities to welcome and include others, and boost their sense of identity and belonging.

The pupils worked closely with a creative partner to successfully plan and deliver a children’s festival that aimed to reconnect five primary schools in the local area.

Across all projects, arts partners worked with learners and staff to understand their challenges and, collectively, they developed a project plan which would help improve learner wellbeing and a wider sense of achievement at the same time as developing their creativity skills.

Download the report to find out more about all six projects and their results.

PDF file: Creative Wellbeing Fund 2023 (1 MB)

Further information:

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New report encourages creative thinking

Published 29/03/2023.  Last updated 04/10/2023

Cover of Creative Wellbeing reportA new report highlighting the innovative ways that school pupils got creative to support their wellbeing has published.

Education Scotland and Creative Scotland established the Creative Wellbeing Fund to support learners’ wellbeing through arts-based learning in response to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic was having on children and young people.

Schools and learning communities across Scotland were invited to submit proposals for a share of the £90k funding, based on a challenge their learners were facing and which an arts partner could help them address through innovative ideas and creative approaches to learning and teaching.

Gayle Gorman, Education Scotland’s Chief Executive and Chief Inspector of Education said: "It was wonderful to see participating schools embracing the new thinking and innovative approaches that evolved through the collaborations with artists. The artists and educators formed strong partnerships as they learned together what had the most positive impact on learners.

"With learners’ mental health and wellbeing a top priority across Scotland, this report is valuable in highlighting how innovative arts-based approaches can encourage participants to share their ideas and explore new possibilities, making a more inclusive and engaging experience for educators and learners."

Six schools were selected from across Scotland, one from each of the six Regional Improvement Collaboratives (RICs), and each was matched with an arts partner to work collaboratively with them and their wider learning communities during the 2021-22 school year.

Among those chosen was Gigha Primary School in Argyll and Bute. as the pandemic resulted in children from rural communities becoming significantly isolated. The school wanted to explore how engagement in the arts could provide learners with opportunities to welcome and include others, and boost their sense of identity and belonging.

The pupils worked closely with a creative partner to successfully plan and deliver a children’s festival that aimed to reconnect five primary schools in the local area.

Across all projects, arts partners worked with learners and staff to understand their challenges and, collectively, they developed a project plan which would help improve learner wellbeing and a wider sense of achievement at the same time as developing their creativity skills.

Download the report to find out more about all six projects and their results.

PDF file: Creative Wellbeing Fund 2023 (1 MB)

Further information:

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