Creative Alliance is now offering schools the opportunity to take on a Creative Learning Apprentice through the Creative Apprenticeship scheme.
Initiatives and programmes such as Creative Partnerships and the Specialist Schools and Academy Trusts are coming to an end. One way of sustaining a legacy of creative learning in your school is to consider employing a Creative Learning Apprentice for a year.
A Creative Learning Apprentice is a young person aged 18-24 with:
- Level qualifications in creative, performing or digital arts.
- Some experience of working with children and young people.
- An interest in working creatively with people in the future.
They will not yet have started a degree but that might be something they are considering in the near future.
Their job is support teachers and teaching assistants in helping children and young people learn through creative approaches in the classroom and through extended schools and out of classroom experiences. They can provide individual and small group mentoring, run activities and help plan and coordinate other creative learning experiences. They are there to support the school deliver creativity across the curriculum.
The Creative Apprenticeship scheme is on the job training whilst studying for a nationally recognised qualification. A school would employ a young person as a Creative Learning Apprentice supporting learning wherever the school leadership though most appropriate. The apprentices and teachers will be supported by Creative Alliance. This support includes: weekly training sessions; regular on site mentoring visits; access to master classes and other nationally renowned expertise in creative learning.
The costs for an academic year are around £7500 / year.
What does this mean for a school?
- Opportunities for young people (including former students) to start their career in the creative and learning sectors. Creative Learning Apprentices develop facilitation, workshop and teaching skills that can be used in either the creative and cultural industries or in schools in the future;
- As well as providing additional classroom based support in creative subjects, it is also an opportunity to invest in your future workforce and train them in the ethos and values of your school:
- Peer mentoring: a young creative apprentice is a role model for younger students to engage, inspire and motivate them to fulfill their potential within those curriculum areas.
Potential Benefits to Schools
The Creative Apprenticeship scheme is on the job training whilst studying for a nationally recognised qualification. A school would employ a young person as a Creative Learning Apprentice supporting staff teaching within the creative arts / English / literacy curriculum areas. Creative Learning Apprentices are earning and learning: working for the school whilst studying for their apprenticeship qualification during their time with the school. We recommend that apprentices are taken on for a school year.
Creative Alliance is the foremost provider if Creative Apprentices in Community Arts in the region. We have supported 30 young people to gain this qualification working with a range of creative and cultural organisations over the last 18 months. The Community Arts Apprenticeship covers topics such as:
- Planning, preparing, delivering and evaluation workshops and creative projects;
- Working with diverse groups;
- Health and safety and Safeguarding.
As such, the content of this qualification is directly transferable to creative subjects in a school curriculum. A Creative Apprentice could support a range of teachers plan, prepare, deliver and assess curriculum based, out of school and extended school offers.
The Creative Apprenticeship scheme:
- Will appeal to a wide cross section of talented young people: learning is based on the reality of working;
- Breaks the cycle of no experience equals no job as it enables young people to gain both simultaneously;
- Is a stepping stone for talented young people into degree / level 4 studies in creative areas or in teaching once they have developed an understanding and experience of work.
For more information on the process of recruiting a Creative Learning Apprentice and an example job description click here
Or contact John:
Tel: 0121 224 7308 or via email: john@creativealliance.org.uk