5x5x5 in practice
professional development
'This exciting enterprise is as much about the transformation of teachers as it is about the transformation of children. The teachers involved over the last seven years now have an exceptional quality and rigour of educational thought. They are true ‘lead learners': excited about and skilled in, not only their own learning, but in scaffolding the learning of others: children, parents, artists and members of the enlightened participating cultural communities.'
Dame Tamsyn Imison, education strategist
5x5x5=creativity has a dual personal development focus: on the children and on the practitioners. The continuing professional development of the practitioners - both education and arts - is essential to effecting sustainable change in policy and practice. Professional development has continued to be integrated throughout the project with regular opportunities for reflection. However specific events are organised each year, responding to group and individual needs. In the autumn term there were two initial development days, in the spring term a RED (research, exchange and dialogue) day, as well as the regular review meetings in each local authority.
mentors
Every ‘triangle' (educator, artist, cultural centre) has a mentor who maintains regular supportive contact throughout the project. The mentor team includes experienced artists, educators, local authority advisers, consultants and university lecturers. Mentors respond to the specific needs of the triangle members, the artist, the educators, colleagues in the cultural centres to enable the research in each setting to fulfil as much potential as possible. They are ambassadors for the principles of the project with wide understanding and experience of the possibilities of this kind of collaborative working. The mentor's role in holding research and relationships is subtle. Time is always a challenge: giving time for reflection, balancing needs for each setting to draw on mentor support appropriately.
In partnership with Bath Spa University, we are offering accreditation to educators and mentors for their research as part of the Professional Masters Programme.
