Private School News

A ‘Taste of the Orient’ promotes learning through creativity

Polam Hall School has introduced a new and motivating teaching method to its Junior School, which moves away from a rigid, prescriptive curriculum and promotes learning through creativity, using the children’s curiosity as the stimulus.

The creative curriculum ethos at Polam Hall is helping pupils to understand core subjects by using exciting and interesting ways to get messages across.

It changes the way in which subjects such as Maths, English, History, and Science are taught to pupils of a younger age, by turning the classroom into an interactive learning space.

Children are still taught the important requirements of the national curriculum, but the way in which the creative curriculum is taught helps them to get inside their own education and become part of the lesson.

The new creative curriculum method has been used to give children a ‘taste of the Orient’ in time for this month’s Chinese New Year. Instead of opening a book about Chinese culture, the school has been using its cross-cultural strengths and inspirational learning to educate younger pupils.

This has meant that children have been making Willow Plates, releasing Chinese lanterns, having a Chinese lunch with chopsticks, and getting their faces painted by Sixth Form pupils from China.

Polam Hall is helping its pupils to think creatively and allowing them to take the lead in interactive lessons, which are aimed at putting a twist on the national curriculum.

Parents have been extremely supportive of the creative curriculum concept, which Polam Hall is spearheading across the Tees Valley.

Angela Foster, Headmistress at Polam Hall Junior School, said: “The inclusion of a creative curriculum means that education is changing from the rigidity of the prescriptive national curriculum, to inspiration, engagement and empowerment.

“Our pupils are using their skills to get more out of their own education and boost their knowledge.

“They are learning about foreign lands, their environment, and historical figures by thinking ‘outside the box’ and taking the lead in their lessons.

“Attending Polam Hall School is fun for both staff and pupils, which is how a learning environment should be.”