This project tried to prepare teachers to deliver the new curriculum for Wales, Successful Futures, which aims to develop children and young people into “ambitious capable and lifelong learners, enterprising and creative, informed citizens and healthy and confident individuals”. Courses selected by our STEAM consortium enable us to prepare staff to deliver on 4 of the 6 Areas of Learning highlighted in the new curriculum plans. 1. Creating and supporting continuous learning opportunities for all staff 2. Establishing a culture of enquiry, innovation and exploration 3. Embedding systems for collecting and exchanging knowledge and learning 4. Developing a shared vision centred on the learning of all students
Our organisation - in collaboration with our partners - applied for this project because we recognised that the traditional focus on STEM subjects (Science - Technology - Engineering - Mathematics) - at schools is not sufficient. Our project tried to explore the benefit of including Arts and Creativity with STEM in order to enhance the necessary cognitive skills to merge arts and science practice - STEM to STEAM. The First Minister for Wales stated the need “to develop a skill's system in Wales that supports our future competitiveness, helps us evolve into a highly skilled society”. Our EDP planned to meet those needs.