A plan to put creativity at the heart of learning in Scotland is published today, Wednesday 25 September 2013.

Scotland’s Creative Learning Plan aims to encourage educational policy makers and practitioners to utilise creativity to benefit learners in schools and places of learning.

Published to coincide with the Scottish Learning Festival 2013, which is taking place over the next two days, the Plan is the result of work by a partnership of organisations - Creative Scotland, Education Scotland, Scottish Government, College Development Network, Association of Directors of Education in Scotland, Skills Development Scotland, General Teaching Council for Scotland and the Scottish Qualification Authority - working across Scotland in education and creativity and sets out a vision for creativity in education over the next 10 years.

It also recognises and aims to build on achievements following the publication in 2010 of the Scottish Government’s Education and the Arts, Culture and Creativity Action Plan.

Recommendations include:

• New policies and plans supporting creativity throughout Scotland
• Increased support for creative initiatives within local authorities, schools and places of learning
• More support for and understanding of the value of creativity and experiential learning by parents and carers

The partners will now each implement a series of actions aiming to raise the quality and quantity of creative learning opportunities throughout Scotland.

Ruth Wishart, Chair of the Creative Learning Plan Strategic Group, said: “As the Creative Learning Plan illustrates, creative learning and teaching can make the classroom a more exciting place across every part of the curriculum. And excitement and curiosity, allied to a free reign for the imagination, are absolutely key to letting every student, and every teacher, reach their full potential.”

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Michael Russell said: “Creativity is at the heart of Curriculum for Excellence, delivering education in Scotland in an innovative and engaging way.  We know that encouraging the creativity of young people helps them enjoy their education experience, stimulates their imagination and provides them with exciting and fulfilling experiences they are able to build on for the rest of their lives.
 
“Developing creativity in our children and young people will better prepare them for the ever-changing society in which we live and equip them well for the world of work.”

Bill Maxwell, Chief Executive of Education Scotland said: “Developing creativity is at the heart of Curriculum for Excellence.  Creativity skills have a particular role to play in providing young people with the ability to thrive amidst the uncertainty and rapid change which is increasingly characteristic of life in the modern world.  I am encouraged by the rich array of creative opportunities and the willingness to create and learn from each other which we now see spreading amongst practitioners in Scotland.  Building on that positive trend, I am delighted that we have collaborated with Creative Scotland to develop a measuring tool which can help accelerate the spread of good practice further.  I’m sure these resources will be welcomed by all who are keen to exploit the full potential that Scotland’s new curriculum offers.”

Janet Archer, Chief Executive of Creative Scotland concluded: “Taking part in creative activities makes a real difference to the lives of children and young people, providing new routes to developing ideas and facing challenges, whilst developing communications skills, confidence and self-esteem.

“Scotland’s Creative Learning Plan will, I believe, have a hugely positive impact on learning and teaching in this country. It aims to inspire and support people passionate about the importance of creativity in education, and to inspire others to understand and benefit from creative learning. It is a powerful statement of intent. It will safeguard the future of arts and creativity in Scotland, nurturing the next generation of artists, creative people and audiences, and ensuring our rich cultural landscape continues to thrive.”

One of the Plan’s actions has been to develop an online creativity measure tool.  The Brewstometer introduces the principles of creativity and helps learners reflect upon and evaluate creative experiences such as a lesson, workshop, performance, gallery visit or project.

The Brewstometer - which is named after the Scottish scientist David Brewster whose achievements included inventing the kaleidoscope - has also been designed to be used as part of a quality assurance process for creative practitioners wishing to be included in a directory of creative partners, available via the Creativity Portal.

To download a copy of Scotland’s Creative Learning Plan visit:
http://www.creativescotland.com/explore/education/scotlands-creative-learning-plan

To use the Brewstometer visit: www.brewstometer.org.uk

http://www.creativescotland.com/news/scotland%E2%80%99s-creative-learning-plan-published-25092013