Four Co Kildare schools chosen to take part in pilot Creative Schools scheme from September 2018
By Kim O'Leary
Thousands of children and young people will have increased access to creative activities in schools as part of Arts Council led initiative of the Creative Ireland Programme, with four Co Kildare schools to take part in the pilot scheme starting this September.
Today, 150 schools across Ireland, reflecting all types of education settings across the country, have been chosen to participate in the Scoileanna Ildánacha/Creative Schools pilot programme. Launched earlier this year by Minister Bruton and Minister Madigan, the programme is a central initiative of Pillar 1 of the Government’s Creative Ireland Programme, which puts the arts and creativity at the heart of children and young people’s lives.
The chosen schools in Co. Kildare are - Scoil An Linbh Íosa in Prosperous, Scoil Mhichil Naofa in Athy, Scoil Mhuire Junior School in Newbridge and Two Mile House National School in Naas.
Chosen from over 400 applicants, schools chosen to take part in the programme include primary schools, secondary schools, Youthreach centres, special schools, DEIS schools, co-educational schools, rural, urban, single-sex and Irish-language medium schools. Work will begin in September 2018 and run through to the end of the school year in 2019.
In their application, schools had to explain how their participation would support learning and development in the arts and creativity, their capacity to engage as a school and their plans for ensuring that children and young people play an active role in developing, implementing and evaluating their work as a Creative School. Through the programme, the Arts Council is engaging with children and young people across the country enabling their creativity and linking them in with the arts and creative infrastructure in their locality and nationally.
Deanne Hoyle of Scoil Mhichil Naofa in Athy said: “Being selected for this programme will help us to develop the arts and creativity at the heart of children's and young people's lives and create new ways of working that reinforce the impact of creativity on our students' learning, development and well-being. It will also help us develop our own, effective, creative arts plan.”
Mary Linehan of Scoil Mhuire Junior School in Newbridge said:“We believe that this programme will seriously enhance our students learning and development. The vast majority of our students come from areas of socio economic deprivation and would not have an opportunity to engage with music in such a manner were it not for the school environment.”
Schools selected for the pilot will be provided with a package of support which includes funding and expertise from a Creative Associate to enable them to explore the potential impact of the arts and creativity on school life. With the support of their Creative Associate, schools will develop a Creative School plan and design a unique programme that responds to the needs and priorities of their school. This process will support children and young people to challenge themselves in new ways, to gain in confidence and to take a more active role in learning.
Director of the Arts Council, Orlaith McBride said;“We are extremely grateful to all schools that applied to participate in this initiative as they have demonstrated the value they place on the arts and creativity in their schools and their commitment to this area. There is clearly a strong appetite in schools across Ireland to ensure their students have more opportunities to fully engage with the arts. We hope all schools will continue to engage with the Creative Schools initiative as it develops
Minister Bruton said:“I would like to congratulate the 150 schools who have been selected to participate in this first phase of Creative Schools. This initiative underlines the importance that arts and creativity can play in our education system, not just as a curriculum subject, but as a vital part of the personal development and creative expression of our children and young people. Every child has the ability within them to be creative and through this initiative, and the support and resources of the team of Creative Associates working with teachers and students, they will have the opportunity to explore the world around them and discover a new way of learning."
For more information on future opportunities for Creative Schools visit - http://www.artscouncil.ie/creative-schools/