Over the past two years Abercynon Community Primary has received funding from the Arts Council to take part in the 'Lead Creative Schools' Project.

This has linked in well with our work on the new Curriculum for Wales, and enabled staff to develop their classroom practice and pedagogy.

Both projects are planned with the involvement of a Creative Agent, who works with the school to discuss the focus. Then the pupils are involved in an interview process to determine which Creative Practitioners they will work with.

The first project involved a Year 5 class and the focus was to raise standards in speaking and writing.  Year 5 worked with Clare Potter (a poet), Michael Harvey ( a story teller) and Adam Amor (filmmaker) to document the story of the river, starting at the source in Penderyn and finishing at Cardiff Bay.

The password to the vimeo link is : abercynon

The second year of the Lead Creative Schools Project involved a Reception/Year 1 class.  The class topic for the term was 'Community Explorers'.  We wanted the children to really learn about the stories and history of their community, so we worked jointly with the residents of 'Cwrt Ynysmeurig'.  Our learners collaborated with the residents to learn about the village in days gone by, before planning and creating a beautiful art installation which takes pride of place in the foyer of the school.