'At risk' and excluded pupils working with a professional graffiti artist over an extended period to ignite: play and immersion, posing questions, being imaginative, making connections, self-determination, intentionality and risk taking.

• To develop practice that fosters a renewed disposition to learn through creativity, with a focus on young people’s agency (their abilities to have ideas and see these through into actions) and pupil voice
• To give young people extended space to explore questions such as ‘What if?’ and ‘What can I do with this?’ through a genuine apprenticeship situation
• To engage with the issue of high numbers of pupils at risk of permanent exclusion

"At a time when creativity is increasingly becoming seen as a vital disposition in adult life – in surviving and thriving in an increasingly uncertain and rapidly changing world, one in which creativity is being seen as perhaps unproblematic – the need to develop our reflective practice to encourage and nurture possibility thinking in children seems unquestionable" - Professor Anna Craft, Exeter University/Open University

Pupils attending West End (offsite provision for excluded/at risk pupils) have had 100% attendance during the workshops; attendance of all pupils involved at ISCA College has risen to a minimum of 90% over the life of the project, with high attendance on the two days of the week that the project takes place; the amount of ‘logs’ for poor behaviour has dropped slightly; pupils are producing and completing work during the workshops, which staff have commented on as being a very positive step.

Partner organisations have gained access to new partnerships, the combination of which has further benefited ‘at risk’ pupils.

"All the young people have become more actively involved in the youth club. Jordan, with help from Charlie, is now doing a regular DJ spot on a Friday night and the girls have organised a disco…" John Antat, manager of The Phoenix Club, venue of the project, on being asked if coming to the club for the graffiti sessions has made a positive difference.

"Chris was very kind and listened to everyone’s ideas – I have a lot of things I would like to ask him," Kayleigh, year nine, West End.

"Chris was very helpful and fun and the graffiti colours were amazing. I really enjoyed it as it was something different and we got to express ourselves as individuals through our work." Lauren, year ten, West End.

Practice needs to be developed so that artists can take all opportunities to foster creativity in this context.

Long term, the aim is to assess (via interviews, observation and data collection) if these pupils have developed positive ways of asking ‘What If?’ and ‘What can I do with this?’ through working with professional artists over an extended time period, whilst exploring pupil voice.

 

Contact DAISI for further information.