Cap-a-Pie is dedicated to enhancing students’ learning experiences through creative projects. Our goal is to bring arts and culture into schools, sparking creativity and helping students engage more in their learning. One great example of this partnership is with Carville Primary School, in Wallsend, North Tyneside. Here, school teacher Rebecca shares her experience and the positive impact these projects have had on both students and teachers.
As a teacher at Carville Primary School, I had the pleasure of working with Cap-a-Pie, an organisation that brings arts and culture into education. This partnership enriched our students’ learning and helped my understanding of creative teaching.
My role and school context
I taught at Carville for seven years. I started as a newly qualified teacher in Year 5 and eventually led the subjects of history and geography. Our school in Wallsend served a diverse community of students. Many of them spoke English as an additional language and came from backgrounds where they might not have access to as many learning opportunities. The Cap-a-Pie projects were especially important for these students, offering them valuable experiences that they might not get elsewhere.
I first got involved with Cap-a-Pie in my second year of teaching when a colleague recommended a project for Year 5. I jumped at the chance to participate in the Thomas Baker Brown project, which fitted perfectly with our history lessons on the World Wars. It made history come alive for the students and let them connect with the subject in a hands-on way. Other standout projects included a project on coal mining heritage which saw students perform in an outdoor theatre and Arcadia, where students stepped into an alternate reality and took on leadership roles. Watching them switch between characters and their own identities was a great learning experience for everyone.
Impact on students
The Cap-a-Pie projects made a real difference in how my students learned. These projects went beyond traditional lessons and helped students grow in ways you didn’t always see in the classroom. I especially saw students with additional needs or language barriers thrive in these creative settings. Their confidence grew, and so did their ability to express themselves.
One of my favourite moments was during a soundscape activity in the Thomas Baker Brown project. The students created sounds that reflected the story they were learning. They didn’t just learn about history; they experienced it, immersing themselves in the sensory aspects of storytelling.
Benefits for teachers and schools
Working with Cap-a-Pie significantly enhanced my teaching practice. I developed my skills in drama and oracy, learning how to integrate these elements into my lessons. These skills helped me engage students more deeply. The partnership also strengthened our school’s community of teachers. We supported each other and shared what we learned, which helped everyone improve.
The impact of the collaboration went beyond my own classroom. It helped create a stronger sense of community across the school. Parents also became more involved, showing how much they appreciated these projects.
As I moved on to new opportunities, I was excited about the future of Cap-a-Pie’s work at Carville. I hope the school will continue to build on this partnership. Creative projects like these were vital for our students’ development and learning.
My journey with Cap-a-Pie was transformative, both for my students and for me as a teacher. These collaborations were so important in education because they gave students rich experiences that boosted creativity, engagement, and personal growth. I would recommend partnerships like this to any teacher – the rewards are worth it.