Memorandum submitted by Ann Bullen,

Assistant Head Teacher and Creative Partnerships Co-ordinator, Hillcrest Hastings, East Sussex

 

Our school is situated in a very deprived area of East Sussex; data statistics show depressing charts of poverty and deprivation and low academic standards.

With many parents two or three generation's unemployed, the community prospects of employment are low; hence school students have low aspirations and poor self-esteem.

Creative Partnerships is helping us to hold an interactive creative dialogue between students, staff and parents within our school and our community in the form of a series of projects lead by both teachers and other professionals. We hope that everyone with whom we come into contact has benefited from the exchange of ideas, to realise their own personal potential and to have enjoyed learning in a variety of ways: emotionally, socially and intellectually. This has been a huge 'challenge'. Creative Partnerships has started us on our journey and we hope there support can continue.

 

The challenge of raising student awareness in three separate areas culminated in the following three projects: these projects have reached out to a much wider audience than just those who participated. I have included in each project comments from teachers and students and at the end, comments from parents, this information has been taken from the raw data collected over the past year.

 

Future plans are building on the work with further partnerships. Creative Partnerships has enabled us to cross many boundaries by working with us reflecting on creative approaches to areas of concern for the school. We are now engaged in embedding sustainable projects to reach the whole school community and reach out into the community and feed Primary schools. We know that Creative Partnership projects make a difference and would urge the government to continue with funding and reach out to more schools which is what we hope to do when we consolidate our own work. Creative Partnerships has enabled us to tackle issues in fun, creative ways by providing us with funding to make partnerships and give us time to be reflective and embark on action research projects from which everyone has benefited.

 

Creative Partnerships can take schools forward and change the learning ethos of the school by looking outside the box and finding new pathways to old solutions. For Hillcrest it has never been just another 'Arts' event, but a reflective tool for all our futures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hillcrest School Hastings 3 PROJECTS 2006 - 2007

 

PROJECT 1 - EYELINE FILMS

 

Research Focus

Can film and video be used to explore the school learning environment and attitudes to learning, build self-esteem and influence school change?

Partner: Nick Pilton, Eyeline Films

 

Project Description

The aim has been to empower students to take a lead in improving the school environment by using Film. Students were given complete freedom without censoring and with a professional director to guide them in the techniques used to make a film.

 

Outcomes

Student feedback was very positive and many points raised by students have been addressed and now being developed. Students have led Staff Inset, which was an amazing experience, which has proved pivotal for further school developments; and we have started a dialogue on how the staff can work together with students to improve learning.

 

Feedback

 

"Wow! I have made this and other people are taking my views seriously" student

 

"I have made this and now realise that life can be more fulfilling and exciting; the opportunities are all around me" student

 

"This is the first step in a school-wide student voice project. It has been instrumental in empowering students and beginning a cultural shift in the way our school community views itself. This is a very positive beginning, increasing our collective esteem and the learning environment of our school". John Crowther, teacher

 

PROJECT 2 - ORE VALLEY VISUAL AUDIT AND DOWN FARM ESTATE

 

 

Research focus

To explore the potential for building young people's self-esteem and increasing visual and verbal creative expression, by raising awareness of local environmental issues through photography.

Partners: Neighbourhood Renewal, Hastings Borough Council, Brighton Photo Biennial and photographer Danny Wilson

 

 

Project Description

Working with six staff and a number of community groups, thirty-two students of all years from estates involved due for regeneration produced a commissioned visual audit exploring the quality of life in their home environment as a contribution to a local regeneration scheme. This provided an opportunity to explore and consolidate the school's extended-school agenda and long-term community partnerships.

 

Outcomes

A photographic audit was produced for local government archives. A community link has been made between school and the surrounding housing estates leading to greater communication and understanding. Following exhibitions and presentations by students of the audit in school and in the local community centre, the School Staff is now more aware of the deprivation and poverty of the community the school serves.

 

 

Feedback

 

Student comment on what they found rewarding from the experience.

 

"Finding different images that tell different stories about the community I live in."

 

"Having the confidence to talk to people for the interviews at The Bridge community centre."

 

"Having to make a speech in front of a Mayor and a M.P." student

 

"Comparing different pictures of the same place."

 

PROJECT 3 - STUDENT VOICE AND LISTENING

 

Research focus

How can students take a more active part in their own learning? What kind of listening is taking place student to student, student to teacher, teacher to student and teacher to teacher to enable the idea of Student Voice to be effective in empowering students and teachers?

 

Project Description

Students have named this project SPLAT: Student Project Learning and Teaching.

The work investigates student research into learning through a number of avenues Classroom dairies were kept of how learners interact with knowledge and teaching and learning styles.

 

Outcomes

The project progressed towards discussion between students and teachers and examined how staff and students can engage disaffected students to learn and participate in learning. Students made diaries on their learning experiences, learnt about relationships and the art of listening and observing and respecting each other and their teachers. Findings were exhibited in the school's community area.

 

Feedback

 

"It's helped me to learn listening properly because before I didn't listen much but now I do, e.g. listening to my friends when they say something I actually listen to them." Rob, a student

 

"It's given me more confidence. I didn't used to speak to people as much as I do now. I talk to other people I didn't speak to before, people I wouldn't normally speak to before. I feel like talking to people now." Ellie, a student

 

"We never used to listen to each other and we now sort of listen. We have to all talk in groups. We used to be shy and now we're not so shy." Zoe, student

 

"People in the group communicate better." Tish, a student

 

"I listen to my friends better." Laura, a student

"The greatest challenge was for me to re-asses the way I interact with students. Not only were we free from curriculum restraints we were not actively trying to teach or learn anything. In working this way, I learnt a lot. I was learning so much from the students about their interests, concerns, attitudes to school and their hopes and aspirations". Jim Cameron - teacher

 

 

Creative Partnerships at Hillcrest 2007-2008

 

1. Multimedia studio for 'Vodcasts' - communication medium for Student Voice

A feasibility study is underway for a multi-media studio for Student 'Vodcasts' (video podcasts) to be produced for the school and community, comprising a radio/film weekly news broadcast

 

2. Student Researchers - Issues raised have been invaluable for the school development Student Research is now included in the School Development Plan for the future the development of the Personalised Development Programme to establish a sustainable Student Researcher Programme within the school.

 

3. Ore Valley Regeneration visual audit - continuing the work in partnership with Hastings Borough Council and Hastings Museum, looking at the historical context of the Valley with follow up photographs.

 

4. International Dimension - International Contacts established from research visit to Sotteville, Rouen to assess the feasibility of a Creative Partnerships Project between French primary schools, secondary schools, Hillcrest Language College and our feeder primaries with a view to working with Radiator, PECA, and Hastings Borough Council.

 

Hillcrest would like to draw on the activities above to implement sustainable school improvement, via Staff C.P.D and student consultation. We believe that by strengthening the Student Voice, student self-esteem and self-respect will be raised which will lead to an enhanced commitment to learning and to the school, sustained by transformation of teacher's knowledge of students. By gaining students' insight and capacity for constructive analysis of their own learning it is hoped that this will lead to creative positive changes in pedagogy and teacher-student relationships.

 

What are parents and members of the community saying?

 

'Very impressive, really enjoyed the films. I am sure the work here is productive.'

 

'Yes - very powerful influences as the relationship between student and teacher is at the head of the school's work'

 

'I know the Visual Audit well but was fascinated by SPLATT - and found the films extraordinary in their professionalism, humour and insight.'

 

'The films showed a good understanding of the problems in the area, why they exist and give solutions for the future. They showed that the children care about each other and their environment and want to be part of changing it for the better. Excellent!'

 

July 2007