"To have artists working alongside pupils is phenomenal!"
Teacher
2022â2025: What we've achieved
The Creative Learning programme delivered in partnership by the Arts Council of Wales and Welsh Government began in 2015.
2022-2025 marks the end of the latest phase of opportunities supporting teachers to explore and develop new approaches to curriculum design through a creative learning pedagogy that places the arts and creativity at the heart of education.
â Scroll to see the phases â
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Whole Programme 2015â2025
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grants awarded Participation
Move the map to see the data for each region
All Wales
160 Lead Creative Schools
758 Experiencing the Arts
72 Cynefin: Culturally and ethnically diverse Wales
54 Creative Learning in the Early Years
84 Creative Leadership Programme
121 Other
Programme Areas
Lead Creative Schools
In Lead Creative Schools, learners, teachers and creative professionals work together to implement bespoke creative enquiries in response to the unique challenges they face. This collaborative process encourages an environment where learners can ask questions, leading to them being more involved in decision-making while bringing the curriculum to life.
The aim of the scheme was to explore:
- show how creativity and creative approaches to teaching and learning can transform learner outcomes and support a change in the learning culture in schools;
- what it really means for young people to be creative and how they know when it is happening;
- what teachers and other creative professionals can do to encourage and develop creativity; and
- how the qualities of a high functioning classroom can support creativity across the whole curriculum.
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creatives trained Cynefin: Culturally and ethnically diverse Wales
Cynefin: Culturally and ethnically diverse Wales is for teachers in primary, secondary and special schools who want to explore the ethnic history and development of Wales as a multicultural society. It was built on the basis of the approach of the Lead Creative Schools Scheme, and it linked the curriculum to the real world of learners and their communities. The aim of Cynefin was to expand a network of schools across Wales that received support to devise and deliver creative collaborative projects relating to:
- understand the history and development of Wales as a culturally and ethnically diverse society;
- explore the experiences and contributions of the diverse cultural and ethnic people of Wales, past and present, develop awareness of the people, cultures and communities that make up contemporary Wales;
- explore identity in relation to growing up in contemporary Wales; and
- develop learners' understanding of the role of creativity in the curriculum and the four purposes of education.
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creatives trained Creative Learning in the Early Years
Creative Learning in the Early Years is an initiative for Early Years non-maintained settings working with children aged 3â5 years. This builds on the approach of the established Lead Creative Schools Scheme and was designed to complement the curriculum for funded non-maintained nursery settings in Wales. The initiative had three aims:
- to bring together early years practitioners and creative practitioners to explore ways of working in non-maintained early years settings, to create environments and experiences that are rich in language, play, physical development, arts, creativity and will support children as autonomous learners;
- to understand the central role of creativity and play in a child's development; and
- to combine the central principles of the curriculum for funded non-maintained nursery settings with the Creative habits of mind pedagogy and learning from the Lead Creative Schools Scheme.
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creatives trained Creative Leadership Programme
The Creative Leadership Programme is for school leaders at all levels â from class teachers interested in creative teaching and learning, to Heads of AOLEs; and Heads of Year to Assistant Headteachers to Headteachers interested in creative leadership.
The aim of the programme was to encourage confidence in new ways of working, innovation, reflection, and resilience whilst also developing the understanding of the role of creativity in the context of the Curriculum for Wales, the four purposes and the professional standards for teaching and leadership.
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creatives trained Go and See
The Go and See Fund offered grants to enable teachers in state-maintained schools in Wales to take their learners ages 3â16 to see high-quality art in venues across Wales.
The purpose of the fund was to ensure the arts in Wales is accessible to all learners, and to enable schools to take learners out of the classroom to experience the creative works of others; giving them the opportunity to respond to and reflect on high-quality art across Wales.
The opportunities included drama, dance, music, art, a cultural festival or any other high-quality arts experience.
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schools involved
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grants awarded Have a Go
This fund was for learners aged 3-16 to try out a practical activity or workshop that focuses on the expressive arts in school and outside of school.
It was designed to provide learners aged 3-16 with opportunities to have a go at a one-off hands-on activity or workshop to support schools with the delivery of the Expressive Arts Area of Learning and Experience.
The fund covered the five disciplines of the Expressive Arts Area of Learning and Experience art, dance, drama, film and digital media and music.
Have a Go also supported the delivery of the Programme for Government 2021â26 and the National Plan for Music Education.
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grants awarded Feedback
"Something that takes you out of the normal curriculum is great!"
Teacher
"It's opened our minds and inspired us to work in a different way."
Teacher
"The children all react differently and actually you get the very best potential out of them."
Teacher
"They were almost always engaged; almost always happy, with smiles on their face!"
Teacher
"The pupils I meet now are different to the pupils I was discussing this project with at the beginning."
Teacher
"You don't think they're learning, but they are! It's lovely."
Teacher
"It's a fantastic experience that you don't get in a normal classroom setting."
Teacher
"It really inspired me to build the confidence to just get out there and do it!"
Teacher
"The new curriculum is revolutionary and it's amazing to be part of it."
Teacher
Looking Ahead
Following Arts Council of Wales' recent successful application to the Curriculum for Wales grant support programme, Creative Learning Cymru is proud to unveil an exciting new chapter in its mission to place creativity at the heart of education.
Building on a decade of impact and innovation, the new programme will support schools across Wales to reimagine curriculum design, deepen engagement, and unlock learner potential through bold, creative approaches.
This new initiative comes at a pivotal moment in Welsh education, aligning closely with the ambitions of the Curriculum for Wales. Through targeted grant funding, bespoke professional learning, and collaboration with creative professionals, schools will be empowered to develop imaginative, inclusive, and enquiry-driven learning experiences that foster progress across all Areas of Learning and Experience.