This report presents key findings from the Classroom Changemakers award programme. It brings together 15 outstanding ideas from teachers across the UK on how to give young people the opportunity to get creative and solve problems in maths and computer science.
Key Findings include:
- A survey we conducted as part of the programme found that a ‘lack of time’ was the greatest barrier to teaching creativity and problem-solving skills across subjects.
- Despite little encouragement or clear reward, many teachers still choose to innovate in the classroom and find new ways to deliver these skills.
- A step-change in continuing professional development (CPD) is probably the most obvious way of giving teachers an avenue to share innovative practice, as well as learn new skills.
Recommendations
- CPD should be available for all teachers.
- There should be permanent structures to share innovation among teachers.
- Students need the tools to benefit from innovation.
- It is important to harness the lived experience of teachers.
- There needs to be a culture of independence for teachers.
