Teaching for Creativity

Supporting teachers to develop young people’s creativity through a broad and diverse curriculum

Like many others, A New Direction believes that creativity is an essential skill that can be taught. Through Teaching for Creativity, we want to support schools and teachers to develop the creativity of their students, whilst also helping to broaden and diversify the curriculum in response to the combined crises currently facing young people.

The pedagogies underpinning this work come from the five Creative Habits of Mind – a concept developed from decades of research that has now been widely adopted into learning policies across the globe. The Creative Habits of Mind offer a great tool for tracking the development of creativity in students of all ages.

  • What are the Creative Habits of Mind?

    The five Creative Habits of Mind: Imaginative, Inquisitive, Persistent, Collaborative and Disciplined, are drawn from the five-dimensional creative thinking model developed through the work of Professor Bill Lucas, Professor Guy Claxton, and Dr Ellen Spencer, who reviewed decades of research and conducted an appreciative enquiry and field trials with teachers. The habits and some suggested pedagogies are outlined in their book Teaching Creative Thinking: Developing learners who generate ideas and can think critically. 

    The diagram below outlines the five key Creative Habits and 15 sub-habits essential for the development of well-rounded, creative students.

    The Centre for Real-World Learning's five-dimensional model of creativity.png
    Developed by Prof Bill Lucas and colleagues at the University of Winchester

Teaching for Creativity Taster Cards

Quick & playful activities designed to help develop creative habits with your students

Teaching for Creativity Webinar

Professor Bill Lucas explores what Teaching for Creativity can look like in the classroom

Learning Resources

Our Teaching for Creativity resources draw on the expertise of London’s cultural sector to provide rich learning materials that help develop young people’s resilience and ability to navigate these times. They can be used by teachers across the curriculum, and explore a range of topics including RSE, the climate crisis, and Black British history.

Teaching for Creativity currently includes nine resources, each of which is accompanied by short video CPD modules. The resources form part of our longer-term commitment to generating relevant and accessible learning materials that help us have braver conversations in the classroom and articulate the power of creativity.

Connecting to Climate Change

Use photography, visual storytelling, and scientific enquiry to explore the interconnection of humans and the natural world. (Science, KS2)

Which Me Do You See?

How can we empower young people to value themselves and support their own mental wellbeing? (RSE, KS3)

Crafting Conversations

How can we support our pupils to celebrate and respect difference within a wider world context? (RSE, KS2-3)

Culture, Community & Activism

Exploring Black British history in London (History, KS3)

Nature Inspired Design

Bring nature into the classroom & change your students' perception of the natural world (DT & Science, KS2-3)

Speeches That Changed the World

Explore key historic figures through their speeches & help students step into their shoes (Drama/History, KS2-3)

What Are the Links Between Colonialism & the Environment?

Uncover the impacts of colonialism on biodiversity & encourage students to imagine new ways of living (Geography, KS3)

The Wellbeing Playlist

Tap into the power of music & help students explore their emotions (Music/Drama/PSHE, KS3)

Being With Me

Use poetry to help students explore permission, consent & personal boundaries (RSE/PSHE, KS2)

Consent and Healthy Relationships

Use poetry to help students explore what healthy relationships mean to them (RSE/ RHE, KS3)

Exploring home and tradition

PSHE and English - Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller People

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