Practitioner Maths & Science

Turves Green Boys’ School

- A Specialist Technology College -

Creative Partnerships Change School Programme 2009-2010

Background

Creative Partnerships is the Government’s flagship creative learning programme, designed to develop the skills of young people across England, raising their aspirations and equipping them for their futures. We foster innovative, long-term partnerships between schools and creative professionals, including architects, scientists, multimedia developers and artists. These partnerships inspire young people, teachers and creative professionals to challenge how they work and experiment with new ideas.

Young people develop the skills they need to perform well not only in exams and extra-curricular activities, but also in the workplace and wider society.

Context

The school is a relatively small technology and humanities college with approximately 650 boys serving the Longbridge district of Birmingham. A small number of the pupils are from minority ethnic communities and standards on entry are broadly average. About one fifth of pupils, an average proportion, are on the special needs register. The school was one of the first to be designated a specialist technology college in 1995.  There are extensive links with other schools within the south western districts of Birmingham and shared sports facilities with the adjacent girls' school.

The school became part of the Change Schools programme in September 2008.  The Change Schools programme builds on Creative Partnerships current practice to bring about sustainable change in approaches to teaching and learning. We have made a firm commitment to putting creativity at the heart of our improvement plans and to educating children and young people for a creative future.

Focus, Aims and Requirements

The Change Schools programme focuses on generating long-term dialogue about creative teaching and learning, and how the school can become a more effective creative learning environment. Our focus is to explore in depth how we can develop the conditions where creativity can thrive.  Can we through engaging with outside professionals, raise achievement and make teaching and learning more exciting and relevant to life after school?

For our first project this year, we are looking for a creative practitioner to work with both a year 8 Science and year 8 Maths group.  We are looking for somebody who understands collaborative learning, and acts in supporting the students on their journey of discovery on all aspects of the project.  There will be many opportunities to ‘join up’ both strands throughout the course of the project with both groups and their staff, with additional support from Heads of Department.

The project envisages the development one or more of the following curriculum topics through the practical application of theoretical skills in both Science and Maths;

-          Environment, behaviour, heat

-          Light, Sound, movement

-          Reaction, rocks

The Key aims of the project are to;

-          In Science, engage and motivate students through the practical and ‘real world’ exploration of theoretical and applied skills

-          In Maths, develop opportunities for the application of acquired mathematical skills, knowledge and understanding in a problem finding and solving environment

-          Develop creativity in staff and students

-          Develop a sustainable model through CPD and partnership with creative artists

-          Enable students to see the practical application of Maths and Science beyond the curriculum

-          Leave a legacy of sustainable creative practice for staff after the project has finished

Selection and application:

As well as someone who can commit to the dates we’re looking for exceptional creative practitioners who have;

-          An understanding of or an interest in how people learn

-          A commitment to genuine collaboration

-          An ability to reflect and communicate

-          A willingness to learn and share skills

-          A sense of humour

-          Have an enhanced CRB clearance less than 18months old and Public Liability Insurance of 5 million

Project outline:

The project will be running the following dates;

12^th January 

26^th January

9^th February

2^nd March

16^th March

30^th March

Times:

 9.00-11.15h         Planning and work with a small group of students/staff.

11.15-13.15h        Project delivery

Practitioners must be able to commit to these dates and in addition, there will be two days planning over the running of the project and 1 day planning & reflection in school.

Fee: £1,590 + up to £ 500 materials budget

6sessions @£160          =        £960

2 planning days @£200=     £400

1 day planning in school= £230

Selection will take place on Thursday 17. December from 14.15 and will involve;

-          Delivery of a 15 minute ‘hands-on’ workshop to 16 year 8 pupils

-          A formal interview with a panel comprising both students and teachers

Fee for attending session and interview will be £50

To apply, please provide

-         a CV (no more than two pages)

-          two references

-          a short description (up to one side of A4) of how you might work with us

-         any portfolio, CD, DVD, webpage reference or any kind of appropriate presentation to showcase your previous work

-         the date of your recent CRB check

-         confirmation that you have public liability up to 5 million

Please send all documents in the DOC or PDF format, no docx please.

If you cannot attend the interview or project dates, please do not apply.

Deadline: by 5pm on Friday 27^th November 2009

Interview: Thursday 17^th December 2009

All applications to be emailed to:

Alan Inglis, CP Coordinator: inglis.al@googlemail.com

For questions please contact Iris Bertz, Creative Agent: ibertz@gmail.com

This project is part of

a Change School project supported by Creative Partnerships

www.creative-partnerships.com and Bright Space www.brightspace.org.uk