Tackley School - Storytelling Project - October 2010 - June 2011

Creative Partnerships - Change School Project, Tackley Church of England Primary School

Tackley Church of England Primary School, Oxfordshire wish to contract one Creative Partner to support the delivery of their project as a Change School.

The background: Building on the success of two previous enquiry based projects on raising pupils’ aspirations and developing their abilities to explore stories within their community Tackley School now wishes to look at developing oral story telling skills. The school will be linking this with critical thinking skills, all teachers will be trained this year in P4C (Philosophy for Children). Over the Spring and early Summer terms the school will be working in partnership with staff, young people and Creative Partners to produce inspiring learning activities that relate to the development objectives of the school and Creative Partnerships.

The brief: The project, will explore the techniques used in oral story telling, using traditional stories from around the world. The work will link with the schools work on teaching critical thinking skills. The school is particularly interested in exploring how oral story telling links with children’s own creative story writing. In addition to storytelling we are planning to work with a printmaker to create illustrations and inspirational source material for our stories and enquiry.

The Enquiry Question: How can listening to and learning to tell stories impact upon children’s story writing? How can critical thinking skills be used in discussing and thinking about stories?

Selection Criteria: Applicants will need to demonstrate: • A high standard in their current creative practice • Experience in working collaboratively with young people and others to develop the programme, which will be delivered to a wider student group • Excellent communication and negotiation skills and the ability to liaise with school staff and other Creative Partners and partnership organisations • Experience OR an ability to conduct action research; to reflect, revise and enable others to do the same. Ability to use Powerpoint is essential as part of the evaluation process.

Please tell us in no more than two sides of A4: • How you meet the selection criteria • How you think your creative practice can benefit young people’s learning • How you feel you would gain from working on the programme • Reference details from two recent projects

Please could you also send us your CV – maximum length 2 sides A4. Please e-mail CV and Application to: head.3144@tackley.oxon.sch.uk

If you wish to send any supporting visual materials such as images and DVDs please send via Royal Mail to: Deborah Nind, Headteacher, Tackley CofE School, Tackley, St John’s Road Tackley, OX5 3AP to reach the school by the application deadline of 24th September

Essential requirements Enhanced CRB check and appropriate public liability insurance – minimum £5 million. If selected for interview you will be required to produce this documentation and photo identification.

Contractual information

The fee for individuals/company will be based on a daily rate of £200 inclusive of VAT, travel and expenses. There will be an initial planning phase of the programme, up to 5 days, so that young people, teachers and creative partners can explore ideas and concepts leading to a programme agreement. Subsequent negotiation and contracting will take place for delivery. Delivery days for the practitioner will be 40 days approx. Up to 3 additional days will be available for evaluation.

Timetable

21st September - Deadline for applications. 24th September - Informing successful candidates of interview. 1st October a.m. - Interviews. 21st October (a.m.) - Preparing for Partnerships planning meeting. 22nd October - If possible successful candidate is to attend Philosophy for Children training at the school (this day will be paid).
(It would be desirable for the successful applicant to spend some time in school planning before the Preparing for Partnerships Meeting) Nov - Dec 2010 - Initial project work in school 10 days max. Jan - May 2011 - Delivery main programme (30 days approx) June 2011 - Final reflection and evaluation of programme – 3 days max.

Before applying please ensure that you are able to attend interview on Friday, October 1st dates and if successful attend the Preparing for Partnerships session on Thursday, October 22nd. Please also ensure you are able to devote enough time to planning and delivery of the project.

For further information please contact: head.3144@tackley.oxon.sch.uk Creative Partnerships Creative Partnerships is the Government’s flagship creativity programme for schools and young people, funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Children, Schools and Families. It aims to develop: • the creativity of young people, raising their aspirations and achievements • the skills of teachers and their ability to work with creative practitioners • schools’ approaches to culture, creativity and partnership working • the skills capacity and sustainability of the creative industries For more information see: www.creative-partnerships.com

Creative Junction Creative Junction is a community interest company and is the area delivery organisation for Creative Partnerships Thames Valley. We build partnerships with and for young people, to develop creativity and to connect powerful, innovative learning across sectors. For more information see: www.creativejunction.org.uk