‘Chapter and Verse’ – creative writing in schools

Next year, children will take part in a magical, immersive creative writing experience in their schools. The children will develop their confidence, wellbeing and skills through drama, music, poetry, and storytelling. In addition, the programme will support teachers across all the schools to develop the skills, confidence and experience to embed learning through the arts.

This ground-breaking programme – ‘Chapter & Verse’ – will be brought to Astrea schools across South Yorkshire from January 2021.  The two year project will team up artists with teachers, building each other’s knowledge and expertise.  Funding from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation has brought this project to life.

Grimm & Co will work with designers to bring an exciting immersive theatre space into the heart of each school.  This alternative realm will transport its visitors to fantastical places of imagination and dreams.  Our travelling theatre, styled in the theme of a chosen novel, will allow pupils to take part in unforgettable creative writing workshops and lessons.

Rowena Hackwood, CEO of Astrea Academy Trust, said:

“This innovative programme will benefit many pupils across our schools in South Yorkshire. These memorable experiences are those which are usually only afforded by independent schools. We are proud to have been selected by Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Our programme resonates well with the foundation’s mission, and aims to provide every young person involved the opportunity to shine through the arts.

“Grimm & Co’s immersive experiences will not only unleash the creative skills of our children, but through training our teachers, our schools will be able to roll out this programme year after year.”

Catherine Sutton, Head of Programme – Education, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, said:

“Chapter and Verse will integrate story making and storytelling into the primary curriculum through a range of arts disciplines. This programme will support teachers and school leaders across a network of ten schools.  They will work in partnership with Grimm & Co to develop the skills and confidence to deliver and embed child-led opportunities to enhance creative writing and to improve writing outcomes. We look forward to taking this learning journey together.”

Deborah Bullivant, CEO of Grimm & Co, added:

“The critical element of this work is embedding arts and creativity into the curriculum. Grimm & Co has developed successful strands of professional development for teaching practitioners.  We build capacity to embed awe and wonder into their teaching, whilst further developing the skills of our sensational artists. It’s a win-win – and the greatest winners of all are the children and young people.

Child immersed in theatre space in the Inside Story project

 

This is just the start of Grimm & Co’s mission to bring more creative writing into schools.  For more information on school workshops, click here.

 

About Paul Hamlyn Foundation

Paul Hamlyn established the Paul Hamlyn Foundation in 1987. Upon his death in 2001, he left most of his estate to the Foundation, creating one of the largest independent grant-making foundations in the UK.  Their mission is to help people overcome disadvantage and lack of opportunity, so that they can realise their potential and enjoy fulfilling and creative lives. The Foundation has a particular interest in supporting young people and a strong belief in the importance of the arts.