Thurrock Trailblazer

THURROCK TRAILBLAZER HIGHLIGHTS 2018/19 2 Thurrock Trailblazer is an innovative ‘I am delighted to present to you the programme of high quality arts and Thurrock Trailblazer 2018/19 Highlights cultural activities, visits to heritage sites Report. and specialist teacher training, that boosts HIGHLIGHTS creative learning in schools and accelerates Trailblazer 2018/19 was another successful pupils’ development. and dynamic year for Thurrock schools, during which they were able to bring a In partnership with Thurrock Council since broad and deep cultural learning offer INTRODUCTION 2014, the Royal Opera House is working into their schools that responded to their with local, regional and national arts expressed needs. organizations to deliver cultural education in Thurrock. This document is designed to give you an overview of all that the programme SATISFACTION ‘Thurrock are committed to ensuring that all has achieved over the year and will tell children and young people have access to a a compelling story of cultural learning in creative offer – one unique way we achieve Thurrock through numbers and figures, this is by working closely with the Royal pictures and participant quotes. Opera House’ CONTRIBUTORS It will showcase some of our cultural Michele Lucas partners and outline their offers to schools, including the work of the Royal Assistant Director, Opera House’s own learning programmes. LEADERSHIP Education & Skills, Thurrock Council. It will illustrate key components of the programme and indicate how they are achieved. I hope you enjoy the report and that you will get a sense of all Thurrock CELEBRATION Trailblazer has to offer.’ Gabrielle Forster-Still

Head of Learning & Participation, Thurrock, FUTURE Royal Opera House.

4 18,000 students experienced Trailblazer ©Belinda Lawley activity this year, from early years to post- sixteen, an increase of 40% from the previous year ©Rachel Cherry A total of 46 Thurrock schools have taken part over the past five years

6 SATISFACTION ‘WE HAVE COMPLETELY EMBEDDED THE ARTS Thurrock Trailblazer has developed in When asked what positive impact schools INTO THE CURRICULUM AND OUR WHOLE SCHOOL consultation with schools and teachers. had seen after taking part in Trailblazer this The programme is of an iterative nature year, teachers commented that they have ETHOS. IT IS NOT JUST ONE PERSON, AND THE and every year changes take place in seen ‘better writing outcomes, particularly STAFF SEE THE BENEFITS, IT IS THE NORM RATHER response to schools identifying gaps in in boys and upper Key Stage two’ as well provision. Previous identified needs include as ‘more experiences for pupil premium THAN AN OPTIONAL EXTRA’ visual arts, EYFS and mental health, which students’. Furthermore, when asked what ASSISTANT HEADTEACHER, TREETOPS SCHOOL were addressed with the 2018/19 Cultural motivated schools to embark on this Catalogue. The programme grew it’s journey to develop arts and cultural learning number of partner organizations by 34% to experiences, the majority voted ‘to broaden ‘AFTER WINNING A THURROCK EDUCATION AWARD, accommodate this. the curriculum’ and to ‘further engage learners’. MOVING INTO MY THIRD YEAR OF TRAILBLAZER, Over 100 hours of continuing professional IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO WORK development opportunities were delivered Most Trailblazer schools choose to align WITH YOU AND TAKE PART IN THE MOST AMAZING in Thurrock with over 300 teachers n their Trailblazer programme with Arts attendance. Teachers and senior school Council England’s Artsmark Award – a PROJECTS, ENRICHING THE STUDENTS WITH LIFE leaders responded to regular satisfaction creative quality standard for schools. The CHANGING EXPERIENCES’ questionnaires and some of the quotes borough of Thurrock has the second highest below, and indeed throughout the whole of concentration of Artsmark Awards in the CULTURAL CHAMPION, GATEWAY ACADEMY this report, are taken from their responses. country. During the 2018/19 academic year, twenty-one Trailblazer schools were Three new schools joined Trailblazer in participating in Artsmark. Two of which 2018/19, with three further schools returning were awarded Artsmark Platinum, five to the programme after a year out. Schools awarded Artsmark Gold and seven were also evaluated and measured the impact awarded Artsmark Silver. of their interventions and questioned their teachers, students and communities. ©Kerry Baker

‘IT IS NOT ONLY GOOD FOR LEARNING, BUT ALSO FOR OPENING UP THE CHILDREN’S MINDS TO A VAST RANGE OF CAREER OPPORTUNITIES - THE ARTS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE ARE BASES FOR A VERY LARGE EMPLOYMENT SECTOR IN THE COUNTRY AND ACROSS THE WORLD’ YEAR FIVE TEACHER, CORRINGHAM PRIMARY

©Belinda Lawley ‘I CAN NOW EMPOWER STAFF TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF THE PROJECTS THEY TAKE PART IN, SO THAT I CAN THEN DOCUMENT THE IMPACT OF ARTS AND CULTURAL WORK ON OUR SCHOOL’ ASSISTANT HEADTEACHER, LANSDOWNE PRIMARY SCHOOL

8 CONTRIBUTORS During 2018/19, Thurrock Trailblazer introduced new local, regional and national Cultural Successful partners from previous years, also continued to flourish in Thurrock schools this Partners, alongside all Royal Opera House learning programmes Create and Dance, Create year, with many returning projects. We have selected four to be highlighted in this report. and Sing, Design and Make exploring dance, dramatic singing and theatrecraft.

BEACON HILL ACADEMY P12 BREAKIN’ CONVENTION P26

FIRSTSITE P14 COALHOUSE FORT P28

LYRICI ARTS P16 CONFIDANCE

THURROCK MUSIC SERVICES P18 ENGLISH TOURING OPERA P30

THE COMPLETE COMMEDIA COMPANY P19 HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES

SILENT UPROAR P20 KINETIKA P32

ROH NATIONAL PROGRAMMES P22 NEW ENGLISH BALLET THEATRE

CREATE AND SING ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY CREATE AND DANCE DESIGN AND MAKE SOUTHBANK CENTRE CHANCE TO DANCE SCHOOLS MATINEES TRESTLE THEATRE COMPANY

VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM INTO FILM P31

10 BEACON HILL ACADEMY Over recent years Beacon Hill have been Beacon Hill to work in collaboration to developing mainstream links, working with develop an arts project. During its first year schools and organisations to develop the Inclusive Arts Project alongside it’s founder The joint project allowed students in partnership with Amanda Bradley. from both schools to work closely Thurrock Trailblazer together while exploring an art form and After an initial CPD session exploring developing an increased understanding the Inclusive Arts methods to embed inclusive arts learning and appreciation of each other and their into the curriculum for all, teachers from abilities. Project reached over ten schools joined with a class from 200 student and staff participants ©Belinda Lawley

‘EVERYONE THAT WE HAVE MET HAS SUCH A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOUR, SO KIND AND WELCOMING... ©Belinda Lawley THEY’RE JUST TEENAGERS, JUST KIDS LIKE US. WE

SECONDARY STUDENT, GATEWAY ACADEMY

12 After teachers ©Grace Price requested a visual arts focus, new partner Firstsite saw over 2,000 students taking part in school and 160 visited the gallery

FIRSTSITE Firstsite is a thriving art gallery and cultural The gallery curated bespoke in-school centre in Colchester. Attracting tens of sessions with a Firstsite visiting artist, thousands of visitors per year, Firstsite approaching a range of subjects and boasts an eclectic mix of contemporary topics through varied art forms including visual arts exhibitions and programming. sculpture, painting, photography, drawing, printing and sound art. ‘BRINGING IN A REAL ARTIST TO WORK WITH THE ASPIRING ARTISTS IN MY CLASS WAS A GREAT WAY FOR STUDENTS TO SEE WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES ARE FOR THEIR FUTURES’ CULTURAL CHAMPION, PALMERS CAMPUS, USP COLLEGE ©Grace Price ©Grace Price

14 LYRICI ARTS Lyrici Arts is an organisation which A very popular offer for 2018/19, Lyrici works in partnership with artists, local Art’s interactive storytelling workshops, organisations and authorities to address led by award winning writer and director Black Minority Ethnic (BME) diversity Olusolo Oyeleye, covered African and inclusion via arts programming. Lyrici’s Caribbean traditions. The workshops remits include festivals and community were delivered in schools and offered a events, theatre shows and professional theatrical experience of words, music, development. costumes and movement to ignite their imaginations.

Over 800 primary students discovered traditional African storytelling in-class with Kent based partner Lyrici Arts ©Belinda Lawley

‘WOW! WHAT AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE FOR THE ©Belinda Lawley YOUNGEST PUPILS AT OUR SCHOOL. THE CHILDREN THOROUGHLY ENJOYED SOLA’S STORIES AND REMEMBERED SIGNIFICANT PARTS WITH JOY’ TEACHER, WARREN PRIMARY SCHOOL

16 ‘IT IS AMAZING SEEING THE LOOKS ON THE YOUNG PEOPLE’S FACES, ESPECIALLY WHEN INTRODUCED

TO A NEW GENRE’ Baker ©Kerry ESTHER FARINDE, MUSIC PRACTITIONER ©Grace Price

THE COMPLETE COMMEDIA COMPANY Bernadette Wakeling, the found of working with the masks and costumes of Complete Commedia Company (CCC) the Commedia stock characters, Harlequin has been engaging in community based and Pierott, whilst learning about the projects in the local area for over 20 years, history of the art form. engaging young people in the theatre style known as Commedia dell’Arte. Over one hundred students from Key Stage three to five took part in the first year of During 2018/19 CCC offered introductory this partnership. Drama Curriculum Leader THURROCK MUSIC SERVICES workshops to build confidence in young from Ormiston Park, Jo Bridge commented people to tell local stories. Students ‘students embraced new characters, Thurrock Music Services currently work Thurrock’s Singing Strategy to develop a were given the opportunity to learn a new left Thurrock behind and transported with over 90% of schools in Thurrock, as an love of singing in every child in Thurrock. theatre technique and develop skills themselves to early 16th-century Europe’. Arts Council England funded music hub. Thurrock Music Services saw 630 students

This year they offered their programme to taking part in Gospel Workshops and CPD ©Belinda Lawley Thurrock Trailblazer schools, ranging from led activity in 2018/19. Practitioner Esther teacher consultation and music curriculum Farinde delivered the popular Gospel support, to CPD and workshops for workshop exploring the basics of harmony students, supporting the vision of singing. ©Grace Price

18 ©Samuel Taylor SILENT UPROAR Silent Uproar are a Hull-based theatre charity Thurrock Mind. Students shared company with the view that people their insights after the performance: should be challenged but also entertained. ‘serious things need to be discussed but Their productions find the most playful, students won’t listen if it’s just told to ridiculous and engaging methods to enable them, so the performance is a great way to people to start a conversation about some do it’ as well noting that the ‘Q&A with the of the most uncomfortable issues affecting director and NHS was helpful’. people today. Whilst invited guest Temi Fawehinmi, After a request for a mental health focus, from Thurrock Council, shared a strong from both teachers and Thurrock Youth testimonial: Parliament votes, the Trailblazer Team connected with Silent Uproar to offer their ‘A spectacularly realistic and raw revelation latest production. A Super Happy Story of the experiences adults usually shield (About Feeling Super Sad)’ by Jon Brittain children and young people from, not - a fun, silly and sad musical. This offer also shying away from the the severe social allowed students to see the performance isolation caused by depression... locally at Thameside Theatre, Grays. Every parent should see this as it will open Students were encouraged to engage in their eyes so much wider to the world as a post-performance Q&A discussion with seen through the eyes of our children and Silent Uproar and the show director, young people’. supported by the local mental health ©Grace Price

180 students and teachers experienced Silent Uproar’s vibrant performance, after mental health was identified as a target ‘THE PERFORMANCE WAS AN EXTREMELY EXCITING area for young people WAY TO HIGHLIGHT THIS VERY SENSITIVE ISSUE FOR STUDENTS’ CULTURAL CHAMPION, OCKENDON ACADEMY

20 ROYAL OPERA HOUSE NATIONAL PROGRAMMES The Royal Opera House aims to enrich programmes, with increasing uptake year people’s lives through opera and ballet. on year. The programmes are aimed at During 2018/19 5,000 Home to two of the world’s great artistic teachers looking to diversify their delivery companies – The Royal Opera and The of the national curriculum; the resources students from Thurrock Royal Ballet, performing with the Orchestra are structured to help teachers choose the of the Royal Opera House – we seek to level of engagement that works best for schools discovered be always accessible and engaging, to them. opera, ballet and develop audiences across the UK and to break new ground. The schools’ programmes are offered in theatrecraft with ROH two-lesson Taster, five-lesson Explorer The Royal Opera House schools’ and 10-lesson Immersive course versions. national programmes certified professional development and The resources for higher Key Stages are schemes of work have been developed presented as stand-alone learning units, with teachers and are high quality and packed with expert advice and insight. inspirational. The training days build These schemes of work are accessible for teachers’ confidence and provide them any teacher or student through the ROH’s with the tools to facilitate learning innovative Digital Learning Platform. through the arts. Thurrock continues to work as a cornerstone of engagement Visit roh.org.uk/learningplatform to browse for the development of these national more information online. ©Rachel Cherry

‘EACH SKILL WAS A SCAFFOLD FOR THE NEXT; THIS METHODOLOGY OF LEARNING THE CREATIVE DANCE BUILT MY CONFIDENCE IN MY ABILITIES TO TEACH AND DELIVER. I RETURNED TO SCHOOL WITH A NEW FOUND ZEST AND COULDN’T WAIT TO TEACH’ WINNI SMITH, YEAR THREE TEACHER, WARREN PRIMARY SCHOOL (CREATE AND DANCE CPD) ©Rachel Cherry ©Rachel Cherry

22 CREATE AND SING DESIGN AND MAKE Create and Sing is a (KS1-KS3) dramatic- Create and Sing develops pupils’ The Royal Opera House’s prestigious to support their students to build their own singing program, artistically inspired skills in singing, drama, storytelling, annual Design and Make (KS2) and Design model boxes of a scene in ballet or opera. by Royal Opera repertoire and offering characterization and music and enriches Challenge (KSs 4 and 5) competitions certified teacher training. Hosted on the the broader learning curriculum with open up the processes and practices of Design Challenge (KS4 and 5) provides ROH Digital Learning Platform this free to creativity. No previous experience of designing for opera and ballet to children resources for specialist Art and Design access scheme of work provides teachers teaching opera or music is necessary. Each and young people, from primary through teachers to enable them to support a bank of resources that includes backing scheme provides guidance for every school to FE level. The programmes also open their students to create set, costume, tracks, how to films, lesson plans and and every child to complete the program up the many pathways which can lead to hair wig and make-up and marketing behind the scenes secrets supporting and stage their very own performance of a career in the creative and production designs for opera or ballet. During the teachers to deliver a show-stopping either Bizet’s Carmen or Humperdinck’s teams at a lyric theatre like the Royal programme, students test and develop curriculum-based course in the comfort of Hansel and Gretel. Opera House. creative and design skills, in response to their classroom. the music and story of a selected opera Design and Make (KS2) provides teachers or ballet. The process develops subject- ©Belinda Lawley with the skills and resources to deliver an related skills such as research, refinement exciting, curriculum-based course to their and producing a final article, but also primary class, developing pupils’ skills promotes wider skills development such in drawing, model making, maths and as concept development, presenting ideas working to scale, storytelling and music. both verbally and in a portfolio, as well No specialist experience of Art and Design as a deeper appreciation for the rich art is necessary, as all necessary tools and forms of opera and ballet as they begin to resources are provided to enable teachers examine them from a different perspective. ©Rachel Cherry

‘I THINK IF I WAS TO HAVE A DAY OFF I WOULD MISS OUT ON AMAZING THINGS’ YEAR FIVE STUDENT, CORRINGHAM PRIMARY SCHOOL ©Grace Price ©Rachel Cherry CREATE AND DANCE Create and Dance is a (KS1-KS3) creative children across Thurrock, exploring Alice’s learning programme, inspired by Royal Adventures in Wonderland. A culmination Ballet repertoire. Designed with teachers, event took place for the Gateway Learning maintaining strong curriculum links, Community Schools, where over 200 the programme develops children’s students and teachers shared their dances understanding of dance; stimulating their and performed a mass-participation imagination and creativity. With dedicated dance with Royal Ballet Dance Artists. teacher training, classroom films and Kenningtons Primary also saw a 73% lesson plans, these resources suit the increase in their staff’s confidence as a needs of teachers and their students. No result of the teacher training. Kenningtons’ previous dance experience is necessary. Year 5 students also featured in the new Create and Dance: Romeo and Juliet films. In 18/19, Create and Dance worked with 19 Schools, 55 teachers and 2424

24 ©Grace Price ©Grace Over 680 students took part in rap and spoken word workshops in primary and secondary school settings this year

BREAKIN’ CONVENTION Breakin’ Convention specialises in Breakin’ Convention offered workshops creating, presenting and touring Hip across four disciplines of Hip Hop Theatre Hop Dance Theatre on main stages and led by specialist artists in each field. festivals incorporating disciplines from Students were given the opportunity to rap, spoken word, graffiti and dance. All learn new skills, as well as boosting their workshop facilitators are active artists in confidence, that helped to enrich their the Hip Hop scene. They use their skills to work in school across Literacy, Music, enrich the curriculum as well as develop Dance and Art. young people’s skills in a genre they are connected to. ©Grace Price ©Grace ©Belinda Lawley

26 COALHOUSE FORT Coalhouse Fort is an artillery fort built in Coalhouse Fort’s education offer to the 1860s to guard the lower Thames from schools provides a wealth of cross- 520 primary students seaborne attack. It stands at Coalhouse curricular activity that included sessions Point in Essex on the north bank of the linked to History, Geography, Maths, explored their cultural river, at a location that was vulnerable to Science and English for schools, based raiders and invaders. around the local history of Coalhouse Fort heritage outdoors at and park grounds. the fort, learning about the environment and gaining new skills ©Rachel Cherry ©Rachel Cherry

28 ENGLISH TOURING OPERA English Touring Opera (ETO) is the leading children at the heart of stories about the touring opera company in the UK. ETO environment. This interactive performance travels to more regions and venues than used song, live musicians and sound- ©Annika Derksen ©Annika any other English opera company; their design wizardry to show the children that work includes commissioned opera pieces they have the power to change the world. especially for young people. Students commented ‘it refreshed what ETO visited Thameside Theatre in June we’d learnt in Geography and it made you for a performance of Paradise Planet – a realise that you can have an impact... it celebration of the natural world that put really showed the effect on our futures’. ©Grace Price ©Grace

INTO FILM Into Film gives every child and young In conjunction with the School Library person aged 5 to 19 in the UK the chance Service, Into Film offered schools to take to experience film creatively. They support part in unique filmmaking workshops teachers and educators to achieve a wide this year, linked to the annual Essex range of effective learning outcomes Book Awards reading event and award in their use of film. Their programme ceremony. Together, 40 students and includes a network of extra-curricular film teachers explored selected book themes clubs, resources for use in clubs and in and learnt how to use new technology to the classroom, training opportunities and create an engaging film trailer of their own. more.

Over 740 students and teachers, from 11 schools, discovered what they can do to

fight climate change Price ©Grace from the comfort of their local theatre ‘THANK YOU FOR FILLING MY HOURS WITH DELIGHT, TERROR AND SURPRISE’ STUDENT, OCKENDON ACADEMY (ESSEX BOOK AWARDS)

30 KINETIKA Kinetika is an internationally renowned carnival artists to create an introduction company with an 18-year track record to carnival for teachers and young of combining world-class design ambassadors at High House Production Bray ©Laura with community projects, to produce park. spectacular outdoor events that engage diverse audiences. Kinetika has a long- English Teacher Neil Moore, from William track record in creating carnival all over the Edwards School commented ‘opportunities world, working with Notting Hill Carnival, like this are so rare and the day was Atlanta Olympics, FIFA and London 2012 packed with so much active learning for all Olympic Games. of us... the Cultural Champions from all four of our schools have never been so fired up To celebrate Thurrock turning 21, Kinetika about a project and we are excited about devised a project to work with schools how the music, dance and art sessions will through the art-forms of carnival. Kinetika drive our plans forward’. bought together a team of experienced

35 teachers and students took part to become Carnival Ambassadors, sharing their new skills with others in school ©Laura Bray ©Laura

32 We witnessed a 55% increase in Cultural Champions being able to advocate for the arts and culture, linking it to whole school

©Grace Price ©Grace improvement plans LEADERSHIP Every school is asked to appoint one or advocacy, change management, measuring more teachers as ‘Cultural Champions’ impact and working collaboratively and the to manage and oversee the delivery of final session shared some of the learning the programme in their schools. Cultural with schools’ senior leaders. There were Champions are at the heart of the Trailblazer over 230 recorded attendances across the model and the programme actively supports course. them and their development. The key aims of the training were: Leadership training has been on offer from the beginning and since 2014 over 350 • To increase leadership skills and teachers have taken part and benefited from confidence this; for many of them the skills gained have • To better understand planning and led to greater responsibilities, motivation evaluation as a leader and promotion which in turn has had an • To enhance potential for leading change impact on teacher retention. • To develop approaches to collaboration • To deepen reflective practice In 2018/19 the Leadership Development • To build school community Training (LDT) was delivered by Katherine Zeserson, an internationally acclaimed After this training Cultural Champions felt consultant, trainer and expert on cultural a 66% increase in believing they could lead learning, in consultation with the Trailblazer the school in arts and culture, evidencing a team. The training included workshops on need for this form of training in schools. ©Grace Price ©Grace

‘I ENJOYED COLLABORATING... THE ACTIVITIES

HELPED PROVOKE DISCUSSIONS, RESULTING IN ©Brian Slater POSITIVE APPROACHES TO LEADERSHIP THAT HAVE GENERATED TANGIBLE CHANGE IN-SCHOOL’ CULTURAL CHAMPION

34 CELEBRATION Most schools have end-of-year activities Trailblazer Moments 2019 comprised of from arts weeks, performances, exhibitions, several exciting events highlighted across whole school or inter-school festivals and the borough. Across the ten exciting more. Trailblazer Moments offered Royal moments presented a range of art forms Opera House support to enrich these were showcased, including exhibitions, activities in a number of ways: variety performances, whole school festivals and cross-curricular collaboration. • All activities feature on the Trailblazer Moments poster and brochure Participating schools opened an invitation • Marketing activity support, for example to Cultural Champions from other schools invitations to parents and local in order to share best practice, widen the community sense of community and strengthen the • An artist or arts organisation to further network of creative teachers in Thurrock. develop in-school activity ©Rachel Cherry

WE R KENNINGTONS Thurrock Community Chorus joined the line We R Kenningtons was a summer music up, sharing the stage with Singing Our Lives extravaganza, celebrating all things as part of the multi-choir showcase. Many Trailblazer and beyond. The event Trailblazer school students attended the showcased performances from students event with their families. across all year groups, with every class taking to the stage. There was also a HATHAWAY SUMMER SHOWCASE performance from Kenningtons School Friends of Hathaway Academy were invited Choir and Dance Group – plus a special to a celebratory exploration of the arts collaboration with Urban Strides. across the school. Students reflected on their Trailblazer experiences focusing on JUNIOR MUSIC FESTIVAL creative arts and musical performances. Thurrock Music Services presented their Highlights included the Hathaway Choir annual Junior Music Festival at Civic Hall with soloists, drama performances, poetry featuring a wide range of musical talents, readings and an art and photography including a showcase of an Indonesian exhibition. Gamelan. A selection of Trailblazer schools wowed audiences with their popular and BLAZING A TRAIL vibrant interpretations of Bizet’s Carmen, Warren Primary School presented ‘Blazing a from the ROH Create and Sing programme. Trail’ to the parent community, celebrating

Illustration: Imogen Harvey-Lewis, Design: Paul Marc-Mitchell Design: Paul Imogen Harvey-Lewis, Illustration: their achievements from Trailblazer this year. ROHTCC AT TILBURY CARNIVAL The event shone a light on activities such Tilbury Carnival returned in July, inspired as Lyrici Arts African storytelling and Royal ST CLERE’S ARTS & CULTURE FESTIVAL across all art forms. African storyteller by the local heritage of the area as the Opera House theatrecraft project Design Celebrating achievements in creative Sola from Lyrici Arts inspired students and home of the Empire Windrush. Produced by and Make. Warren Primary Chance to Dance and cultural learning this year, the local parents alike to embrace creative literacy Tilbury on the Thames Trust, in collaboration Company also presented an excerpt from community came together for the St and take up the Library Reading Challenge. with Kinetika, the carnival brought Fokine’s classic ballet The Firebird with ROH Clere’s Arts & Culture Festival. With over 50 Students shared work in response to ETO’s together locals in creative projects and costumes. stalls and a classic car showcase, students Paradise Planet, exploring an environmental mass-movement. The Royal Opera House presented a range of talents from across the theme linking to work with Essex Wildlife Osborne Co-Op Academy Trust including Trust and The Port of Tilbury. song, dance, poetry and an art auction. THURROCK COMMUNITY CARNIVAL INCLUSIVE ARTS CELEBRATION SWECET schools came together for an Reflecting a successful first year with their exciting new event that celebrated Thurrock Inclusive Arts Project, Beacon Hill Academy and its history. PTAs and local community invited students from participating groups collaborated to present a fun Trailblazer schools to come together once programme of entertainment for all the more. Students had the opportunity to family. Students led a colourful carnival work alongside each other in a number of procession and explored the impact of dynamic workshops and then to share their plastic on the environment by making collaborative experiences with an audience. vibrant recycled headdresses. A Royal Opera House Everybody Dance workshop GLC LITERARY ARTS FESTIVAL culminated in a show-stopping flash mob The GLC Literary Arts Festival returned to finale. ©Belinda Lawley celebrate a variety of Trailblazer projects

This year ©Belinda Lawley ©Belinda Lawley ©Belinda Lawley Trailblazer Moments reached over 9000 participants in schools across the borough

FUTURE For the 2019/20 academic year we are able Our Leadership Symposium in November to offer our most ambitious programme to 2019 will focus on this and engage school date which includes over ninety educational leaders, local authority professionals and offers, building on existing successes and Cultural Partners across the region in the developing new relationships. debate.

The Trailblazer programme for 2019/20 In the context of the new Ofsted framework will continue to work with thirty of the we believe there will be a new groundswell country’s most exciting and cutting edge of appreciation and need for the kind of national providers of cultural learning, whilst outcomes cultural learning initiatives like supporting and growing an ever increasing Thurrock Trailblazer can offer schools, so we number of high quality local and regional look forward to the future with a keen sense partners. of excitement and optimism.

Over the years, we have received generous funding from Thurrock Council, Arts Council England and Kim Samuels, and this funding is confirmed until August 2020.

The future of Thurrock Trailblazer and the provision of an arts and cultural learning offer for schools in Thurrock (and beyond) will be a key theme of our work next year, particularly in the early part of 2020.

40 INSPIRING LEARNING THROUGH THE ARTS