The arts | Headteacher Update

Teaching and learning is crucial to the success of a primary school and the delivery of the curriculum plays a key role. Furthermore, arts education remains vital, especially in the primary years. We offer a range of case studies and best practice to help schools boost curriculum delivery and wider education in this area.

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Primary Singing Toolkit

A range of practical singing strategies for use in the primary school are available from a new and free digital resource.

A cautionary tale: Helicopter stories

The stories young children tell can open up a world of creativity, communication and development, while offering crucial insights to teachers. Trisha Lee explains the concept of helicopter stories

Converting festive crafts into scientific research

Winter crafts can be a valuable source of STEM learning, teaching pupils critical thinking and scientific skills while also having fun. Inspired by the Rubbish Science initiative, Fiona Aubrey-Smith explains

National Theatre Collection for Primary Schools

The National Theatre’s Collection for Primary Schools is offering high-quality filmed performances of eight productions free for UK state schools.

Classroom 200 offers free music, lesson plans and resources

A new and free music resource aims to help teachers overcome a lack of time, budget and specialist knowledge when planning lessons.

Beachcomber launches environmental art challenge

The story of Rob Arnold, a beachcomber, artist, and environmental activist, is being used to inspire pupils in a new art competition.

Safeguarding briefing: Changing facilities

A new safeguarding briefing for schools outlines best practice on changing areas and the supervision of children who are getting ready for lessons such as PE and drama.

Getting creative with robots

Pupils are being asked to draw their own robots and write about all things robot as part of a UK-wide competition.

Sparkyard: Harnessing the power of singing and music

Access All Arts Week

Plans for the first ever Access All Arts week, a new nationwide arts event for primary schools, have been unveiled.

My Twist On A Tale: Our Tomorrow

The popular My Twist On A Tale writing and creativity challenge has been given a sci-fi makeover for 2021 with the theme of Our Tomorrow.

Covid time capsule: Students asked for submissions

Students are being asked to capture and preserve their memories of life during the pandemic as part of a Time Capsule project.

No Room For Racism: Draw Together Challenge

?The Draw Together Challenge – aimed at empowering children to help and support others who face discrimination – is open to entries until June 11.

#EduArtsFest: Schools urged to join a Twitter celebration of student creativity

A one-day festival is aiming to showcase the role of the arts in our schools and is promising to “fill Twitter with paintings, drawings, poems, music, dance, and drama”.

Model Music Curriculum emphasises practical craft of music-making

The DfE’s new Model Music Curriculum for key stages 1, 2, and 3 will promote regular performance opportunities, emphasising the practical craft of music-making, composition and collaboration, says Chris Cobb

Christmas card design competition

A Christmas card design competition with award-winning illustrator Dapo Adeola has been launched by the National Literacy Trust (NLT).

Resources explore themes of Remembrance, literacy and creativity

Teaching resources to help pupils of all ages explore their shared heritage of Remembrance have been launched to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe.

Key stage 2: Environmental design challenge

The final deadline in Headteacher Update's environmental design challenge for key stage 2 has been extended until August 7 to allow pupils to work up their entries during the summer holidays.

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Shakespeare-inspired crafts, activities, resources and lessons

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has launched a number of resources to support students learning from home during the lockdown.

Weekly puppet workshops until July 12

A series of puppetry workshops are being made available by the Beverley Puppet Festival, which is being held online this year amid the coronavirus lockdown.

Home education: Resources for schools, teachers and parents: Part 3

This is the third edition of the SecEd compendium of home schooling and remote education resources for schools, teachers and parents. We cover a range of subjects, as well as exercise and keeping fit, mental health and wellbeing, cultural and arts activities, and whole-school support

Subject association directory offers home schooling support

A new directory is helping teachers to access a wide range of home education support and guidance on offer from the UK’s subject associations.

Home education: Resources for schools, teachers and parents: Part 2

A range of resources and education services are being offered to schools and parents to help support home education. SecEd's second compendium lists more than 65 resources, many of which of free or open access...

BBC to publish daily lessons and materials to support home-schooling

The BBC is to publish 14 weeks' worth of curriculum-related learning resources to support the education of the nation’s children during the coronavirus lockdown.

Home education: Resources for schools, teachers and parents: Part 1

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

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