Faith Hagerty, head teacher at More House School in Knightsbridge, writes on the importance of creative thinking and ?going against the grain? in a changing world
Creativity is, if you ask me, a rather misunderstood noun. Many of us would associate it with the arts, the creative arts, rather than a way of thinking or a particular approach to a task or activity. ?He?s very creative!? we coo as we pin our son?s painting up on the fridge. There is an alarmingly common tendency amongst parents and teachers to separate creativity from academia, as though creative thinkers are somehow less able. This could not be further from the truth, proved by the fast-moving growth of our creative economy.
As we watch our world morph into a new version of itself year on year, surely the creative thinkers will be the ones to keep up, to adapt, to stay ahead of the curve and lead change. But how do we teach creativity" Is it indeed teachable" I believe that it comes down to space. Pupils need to be allowed the space in their learning to take in information, process it and then develop the skills to apply their own angle to what they have learnt. They need to be given permission to understand things on a different level to their peers, to find an alternative route, to go against the grain. At More House School, we encourage engagement in the arts to help facilitate that space and support pupils in finding a voice. Our small class sizes build confidence and foster independent thought. W...