From 2022-24, a Paul Hamlyn Foundation-funded project took place in Torbay, supporting oracy in schools using creative approaches. Led by the team at Devon Arts in Schools Initiative (Daisi), an Exeter-based charity, the work was co-developed with 3 key Torbay partner organisations: the Riviera Education Trust, Sound Communities and Doorstep Arts. The project was developed and incubated in its early development stages within the Torbay Arts in Schools Network, a regional partnership which works to support arts in schools.
For the drama-based Teaching Artists in the Doorstep team (Polly Ferguson-Carruthers, Jade Campbell, Sam Parker), this was a meaningful and rich experience, working for a sustained period of time in partnership with teachers in the schools, co-planning and reflecting together. Delightful to see outstanding practitioners such as PaddleBoat Theatre Company, Skylarker, Moor to Sea Music, MED Theatre and former Associate Artist Rachel Norris all involved in the work as contributing artists, as well as the brilliant Sound Communities practitioners. This partnership project assembled an outstanding team of regional artists for delivery – big thanks to Daisi for their leadership and coordination and to all the project partners for the quality of their Teaching Artist contribution.
This 2 year programme led to substantial sustained collaborations between teachers and regional Teaching Artists, and resulted in long-term relationship-building and step-change for the region. This happened in classrooms, via regular Learning Loops, and also with off-site training sessions, such as away afternoons, where CPD and exchange could take place more intensively.
This Vimeo video captures the ‘Artist Takeover’ event which occurred in June 2024 at Shiphay Academy in Torquay, alongside team reflections.
Doorstep’s work continues long-term in the Torbay region supporting oracy and creative approaches in education, via sustained artist residency work in regional schools, our leadership of the LCEP (Local Cultural Education Partnership) and ongoing teacher CPD.