The Borders Creative Learning Network is funded by Education Scotland. Each year we are able to apply for up to £12,000 to deliver a number of projects across our schools. To expand the reach of the work, and the budget, we work in collaboration with a range of partners , both local and national.
The projects are supported by the Creative Learning Officer, who is also responsible for our partner project the Youth Music Initiative.
We additionally assist a number of organisations and programmes in the region to enhance their opportunities for our schools. This includes one off artist led activities to working alongside partners to deliver a diverse areas of learning. In the last couple of academic years this included archaeology projects, drama, literacy outreach, the Borders Young Creatives project, employability and music.
Below are summaries of our most recent projects.
Authors in Schools
The Authors in Schools provides highly engaging talks by leading children’s authors for schools across the region. The visits are organised with our local partner, the award winning bookshop, Mainstreet Trading, who are key in enabling the project to secure the authors through their excellent relationships with UK publishing houses.
Teachers book Group
This group has successfully grown with teaching and library staff from across our schools attending. who receive the literacy news and learning information. The CLA has increased the level of literacy reports, research and learning opportunities being presented to the group. The CLA has also established a connection with the UK wide Young Sir Walter Scott Award and relationships with Historic Environment Scotland to widen the ways of learning and engaging with our Border history and writing.
Where next? ~ employability and FE study in the Visual Arts
We worked with Andrew Mackenzie, the chair of Visual Art Scotland , to run portfolio and careers workshop for senior pupils to enhance their prospects and options for further study and careers in the arts. Andrew delivered practical sessions reviewing the student strengths and weaknesses in relation to successful entry at art collage.
He also delivered whole class workshops exploring with S2 and S3 pupils the skills needed for a career in the arts.
Borders Arts Fair
At the Art Fair, held at Springwood Hall in Kelso, we have hosted creativity workshops to S1 and S2 pupils, delivered by the Creative Learning Officer and Mark Timmins of Work+ . Andrew Mackenzie took the pupils tour of the exhibition and led discussions with the artists, gallery owners and collages staff who were in attendance.
S1 Careers talks
Film Literacy Education
Developing Creativity in Learning
