Beating the drum for literacy Can we use music to help boost recovery and wider literacy lessons in the primary school? Nicola Hankey discusses the approaches used in her school and the benefits of building music into school literacy recovery strategies
Musical play: A powerful tool for self-regulation Musical play can help to teach young children crucial self-regulation skills, research has suggested. Dr Antonia Zachariou explains more and offers some practical ideas based on their findings
Music education: A plea to schools People cannot learn to like what they never hear. Brenda Watson urges schools to give music education a higher profile in their schools and offers four ideas to get started
Coronavirus: Home education resources for schools, teachers and parents A range of resources and education services are being offered to schools and parents to help support the home education of students during the coronavirus crisis. Dorothy Lepkowska looks at some of what is out there, including a number of free-access resources
An inspiring range of STEAM activity ideas Science, art, technology and computing education is high on the agenda at St Mary Magdalen’s Primary as can be seen from their work each year to mark British Science Week. Gary McNab explains
Theatre-inspired ideas to boost creative skills How can we integrate creativity into the primary classroom? Drawing on the approaches of the National Theatre’s Let’s Play programme, Lorna McGinty offers some ideas and inspiration
Case study: Arts, creativity and the curriculum Headteacher Michael Schumm speaks to Amanda Hall-Davis about the innovative curriculum at his school and its basis in creativity and the arts
Sport and PE Premium: Making a song and dance Dance activities are not the first thing you might think of when it comes to the PE and Sport Premium funding, but it is a popular way of spending the money. Chris Parr takes a look
Literacy, oracy and language with Shakespeare Robinsfield Primary School has been delivering Shakespeare to its five and six-year-old pupils with a specific focus on literacy, oracy and language. Headteacher Naomi Leaver explains how they approach this work
Diary of a Parent: The Cinderella subjects? After seeing the impact of a trip to the theatre on her daughter, our parent diarist is concerned that the academic focus of education is limiting children’s life chances
Case study: The arts across the curriculum Balancing high-quality arts provision with meeting core academic measures is a challenge for primary schools. Jane Ryder discusses how this is tackled at Sidegate Primary School and offers some examples of their practice
Music education: An evaluation of In Harmony The In Harmony project has received £3 million in government funding to bring music opportunities to primary pupils in six disadvantaged areas. Dorothy Lepkowska looks at a new evaluation of the scheme’s impact so far 1 comment
Getting to grips with teaching Shakespeare Engaging young pupils with the work of Shakespeare is not as hard as you might think. Emma Lee-Potter speaks to two schools who have been working with the Royal Shakespeare Company to great effect
Diary of a Headteacher: Time for enrichment? Despite government accountability and pressure focusing on academic outcomes above all else, Tom Donohoe is adamant that a breadth of curriculum provision must be maintained...
Case study: A central role for the arts From changing classrooms into workshops to pupils curating their own museums, the arts play a central role at Sidegate Primary School. The school’s arts and culture coordinator Jane Ryder explains
A Cultural Education Challenge The Arts Council’s Cultural Education Challenge is aimed at bringing those working in schools and the arts together to deliver effective and inspiring arts education. Laura Gander-Howe explains
Getting the most from external arts partnerships Primary schools often engage with external organisations when it comes to delivering arts education and wider opportunities. Jeremy Newton looks at some of the ingredients that make for productive relationships
Successful arts partnerships Working in partnership with outside organisations can bring a real boost to your arts and music provision. Gary Peile and Michael Corley discuss the work they have undertaken in partnership
Preview: The Into Film Festival The Into Film Festival takes place from November 4 to 21, offering schools a range of opportunities to use film to inspire and educate their pupils. The festival’s artistic director, Sam Wilson, previews this year's event
How prepared are you for the new primary curriculum? What areas of the new primary core curriculum are schools most prepared for and where do they feel least confident? Elizabeth Pope looks at the findings from NFER’s latest Teacher Voice survey.
Preparing the new primary curriculum: Music, art and DT In the second part of series on the new national curriculum, Suzanne O’Connell looks at the programmes of study for art, music and design technology. With September 2014 fast approaching, how should schools prepare?
Whole-school projects: Take One Picture The annual Take One Picture project allows schools to explore all corners of the curriculum using one of the National Gallery’s famous paintings. Helen Frostick explains how her school has been inspired.
Investing in film education The British Film Institute is investing £26 million in a unified programme of film education. Headteacher Janice Middleton explains
Engaging boys with and through dance Dance can be a powerful medium to engage pupils, especially boys. Experienced dance teacher Louise Wilkie explains why and offers some practical advice and ideas
Singing from the same music sheet? Are schools tuned-in to the range of support that is now available for music education? Mark Burke reminds schools of what the new National Music Hubs have to offer...
