Creative Residencies
Bringing Creativity to Life
At Grafton Primary School, creativity isn't something children simply learn about. It is something they experience.
Alongside our teachers, children have the opportunity to work with practising creative professionals who bring their expertise, passion and imagination into school. Through our Creative Residencies, children see creativity not as something reserved for galleries, concert halls or published authors, but as something alive, accessible and relevant to their own lives.
These experiences enrich learning across the curriculum, inspire confidence and remind children that creativity belongs to everyone.
Because every child deserves the opportunity to learn from people who create, perform and inspire for a living.
Learning from Real Creatives
There is something powerful about learning from someone who uses their craft every day.
Whether a child is painting alongside an artist, composing music with a professional musician or developing ideas with a writer, they begin to understand that creativity is a process of exploration, curiosity and perseverance.
They discover that the best ideas often come from
- asking questions.
- experimenting.
- making mistakes.
- trying again.
These are lessons that extend far beyond the creative arts and become habits for learning across every subject.
Our Artist in Residence
Our Artist in Residence works alongside children throughout the school, encouraging them to look carefully, think deeply and express their ideas with confidence.
Children experiment with a wide range of materials and techniques, explore the work of artists from different cultures and time periods, and learn that great art begins with curiosity and careful observation.
Working with a practising artist allows children to experience the creative process first-hand. They see that artwork evolves through reflection, revision and experimentation, helping them develop resilience as well as artistic skill.
The impact can be seen throughout the school, where children's creativity is celebrated in classrooms, shared spaces and exhibitions that reflect the value we place on every child's unique perspective.
Artist in Residence
Musician and Composer in Residence
Music is another powerful way children discover their voice.
Our Musician and Composer in Residence, Juwon Ogungbe, works with children throughout the year, introducing them to live performance, composition and collaborative music-making.
Through workshops, performances and creative projects, children experience music as something to participate in rather than simply listen to. They learn to perform with confidence, listen carefully to others and appreciate the power of music to bring people together.
For many children, these experiences provide opportunities they may never otherwise have encountered and open doors to interests that could last a lifetime.
Musician in Residence - Juwon Ogungbe
Creativity Across the Curriculum
Our Creative Residencies are not separate from learning — they are woven into it. Children might use music to deepen their understanding of history. Art to explore science. Drama to bring literature to life. Creative thinking to solve mathematical problems.
By working alongside creative professionals, children learn that creativity is not confined to one lesson or one subject. It is a way of thinking that enriches every aspect of learning.
Opening Doors
For some children, meeting an artist, composer or writer may be the first time they have encountered someone working in a creative profession.
Those moments matter.
- They broaden children's understanding of the possibilities available to them.
- They encourage children to imagine futures they may never have considered.
- They remind every child that creativity is not something other people do. It is something they can do too.
Through Our Values
Love – Nurturing every child's creativity with encouragement, care and belief.
Creativity – Inspiring imagination, experimentation and original thinking every day.
Kindness – Valuing every child's ideas and celebrating different forms of creative expression.
Inclusion – Ensuring every child has access to inspiring creative experiences and professional role models.
Resilience – Showing that creativity grows through practice, reflection and perseverance.
Empowerment – Helping children discover talents, interests and possibilities they may never have imagined.