Innovative curriculum prompts Nesta to visit Talbot Heath

The education team from Nesta, the global innovation foundation, visited Talbot Heath school this week to learn more about the Bournemouth school’s innovative curriculum approach.

The team joined a Year 1 class for an interdisciplinary lesson with Head of Design, Andrew Morris, learning about the effects of gravity and experimenting with different types of parachutes to bring Jack safely down from the top of the beanstalk.

Following a tour of the school by Junior students, Andrew Morris walked the group through the plans for an innovative STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) Hub which will be open for use from Spring 2019. The STEAM Hub will provide flexible learning and performance spaces, supporting local schools with access to innovative facilities and equipment to support learning at all levels. They also had the opportunity to discuss the complexities of AI in education with a group of Year 9 students, the results of which will be published in a Nesta report early next year.

It is clear that a change of educational model in the UK is becoming increasingly important as the world of work evolves. To ensure young people are prepared for a future of artificial intelligence and automation, schools need to be supporting creativity, digital proficiency, adaptability, resilience and collaborative working. Nesta are keen to back new ideas that equip people with the skills and knowledge they will need for good jobs in the future. For example, Nesta have recently launched the Future Ready Fund, a £250,000 grant funding programme to support the development of social and emotional skills and resilience in young people aged 11–18.

The Head, Angharad Holloway, presented Talbot Heath’s model and discussed how we can replicate our approach to benefit other schools across Dorset and nationally. Nesta were interested to learn more about Talbot Heath’s innovative approach to education, to see it in action and understand the ways that Talbot Heath plans to engage local schools and the wider community, supporting them with access to curriculum resources and access to the STEAM Hub.

Talbot Heath’s innovative curriculum will see girls from age 3–18 taught digital design, design thinking, material science and ethics. Students will be taught in an interdisciplinary project-based way, supported by the expertise of Higher Education and industry, better preparing them for the future of work in world of automation and Artificial Intelligence.

Angharad Holloway, Headteacher, said: ‘We are delighted that Nesta have recognised our approach and were interested to learn more about our model and how we plan to support other schools to adopt elements or all of our curriculum. We hope they will support us to raise awareness of the need for a more interdisciplinary approach to education for all.’

For more information on Talbot Heath’s vision for education please visit www.talbotheath.org/about-talbot-heath/steam-hub-new-2019 or contact Lisa Northey-Dennis, Director of Development (lnorthey-dennis@talbotheath.org) to arrange a visit.