Tees Valley Creative Learning Partnership have been named as one of only six recipients of a national fund which helps support teacher development.

The Teacher Development Fund, awarded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation, is a new initiative that supports the delivery of effective arts-based teaching and learning opportunities in the primary classroom, and embeds learning through the arts in the curriculum.

Grants of around £150,000 have been awarded to partnerships of schools and arts/cultural organisations and will support teachers and school leaders to develop the necessary skills, knowledge, confidence and experience to teach non-arts subjects using arts based approaches. The work is delivered over two academic years.

The need for the Teacher Development Fund was identified by independent research and evaluation carried out by the Centre for the Use of Research and Evidence in Education (CUREE). PHF has also been reflecting on learning from The Teacher Development Trust’s ‘Developing Great Teaching,’ (2015) and the Department for Education’s ‘Standard for Teachers’ Professional Development.’

The Tees Valley CEP works collaboratively to support children and young people living in the Tees Valley through points of transition in their lives through arts and culture. The money will be used to match schools with artist practitioners who will work in depth with teachers over a sustained period to develop practical skills and to improve confidence. In the longer term, the partnership seeks to develop a scalable model for visual arts continuing professional development, to benefit teachers across their Teaching School Alliance.

Paul Hamlyn Foundation was established by Paul Hamlyn in 1987. Upon his death in 2001, he left most of his estate to the Foundation, creating one of the largest independent grant-making foundations in the UK. Their mission is to help people overcome disadvantage and lack of opportunity, so that they can realise their potential and enjoy fulfilling and creative lives.