About Nesta

Nesta is an innovation foundation. For us, innovation means turning bold ideas into reality and changing lives for the better. We use our expertise, skills and funding in areas where there are big challenges facing society.

Classroom Changemakers

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.

Authors

Theo Knott

Theo Knott

Theo Knott

Programme Manager, Education

Theo managed the fairer strand of Nesta's Education work.

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Camilla Patini

Camilla Patini

Camilla Patini

Team Administrator (Education)

Camilla provided administrative and programme support to the Education team.

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Jocelyne N'guessan

Jocelyne N'guessan

Jocelyne N'guessan

Receptionist

Jocelyne was a Receptionist in our Front of House team.

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Wayne Holmes

Wayne Holmes

Wayne Holmes

Principal Researcher, Education

Wayne led on developing Nesta’s education research agenda and producing research on how technology can be used to reimagine teaching and learning.

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Juliet Ollard

Juliet Ollard

Juliet Ollard

Data Justice Senior Researcher, Data Analytics Practice

Juliet was a senior researcher in the Inclusive Impact unit within Nesta’s Data Analytics Practice.

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