An asset for SATs

“When we have a continuing partnership with a school, our Specialists can make a notable improvement to children’s SATs results,” says Artis Head of Professional Services Nigel Mainard (Boing).   “Creative learning through drama helps improve vocabulary and speaking skills. And these are proven routes to better abilities in reading and writing. There are indisputable links between stimulating young imaginations and the consequent effect this has on written work. We see this happening time after time at schools where we are a regular part of the weekly timetable. And like music and movement, drama helps schools provide a broad and balanced curriculum.”

At Randal Cremer School in Shoreditch, east London, SATs results have risen two years running, credited in part to the influence of Artis Specialists Kersplat and Zoink. “Our techniques are impressing teachers and support staff,” says Ker-Splat. “For example, we introduced the ‘magic object’ as a focal starting point for the children to create original drama; they can give anything a special power and use it as a stimulus for imaginative journeys and adventures that they present to other class members. These ideas feed back into creative writing, increasing attainment and scores for literacy. Ofsted noted that we made a good contribution to children’s learning.”   Mayespark Primary School also benefits from our creative approach that combines music movement and drama. We are now in our fourth consecutive year of Artis support, providing Specialists two days a week. Penny Teece, Acting Deputy Head at the school, says:   “In the first couple of years children's creative writing became so much stronger and our KS2 SATs results in writing showed a marked improvement. The partnership with Artis is firm. The organisation is an integral, important part of Mayespark’s curriculum offer. Specialists are part of the staff team, working alongside us to produce creative learning that impacts on core curriculum subjects, especially literacy.”   Emme Byrne, Assistant Headteacher at Mount Pleasant Junior and Infant School agrees. “Artis makes a great difference to us. They help us offer a broad and balanced timetable that develops the whole child”, she says.   “Our senior management team is also currently concentrating hard on raising standards and we’re moving in the right direction. For example, we’ve seen a big improvement in our Key Stage Two SATs results. Artis shares in that success for the creative learning they add to our regular teaching programme and by keeping our priorities at the heart of their work.”   “I think to get the most benefit from Artis, a school’s ethos needs to fully embrace and support creativity, and see it as an important tool to a well-rounded education. As far as we’re concerned, Artis’ time with our children is precious time. They do so much more than provide the cover for our PPA. They give the children an enjoyable, high-quality experience of the performing arts, plus they encourage self-esteem, confidence and development in listening, speaking and concentration skills. These are generic abilities, not only helping children to succeed in immediate life challenges like good attainment in SATs, but contributing to future achievement in young adulthood and beyond.”