AGAINST THE GRAIN Faith

BRAVE NEW WORLD

Faith Hagerty, head teacher at More House School in Knightsbridge, writes on the importance of creative thinking and ‘going against the grain’ in a changing world

Creativity is, if you ask me, a rather misunderstood noun. Many of us would associate it with the arts, the creative arts, rather than a way of thinking or a particular approach to a task or activity. ‘He’s very creative!’ we coo as we pin our son’s painting up on the fridge. There is an alarmingly common tendency amongst parents and teachers to separate creativity from academia, as though creative thinkers are somehow less able. This could not be further from the truth, proved by the fastmoving growth of our creative economy.

As we watch our world morph into a new version of itself year on year, surely the creative thinkers will be the ones to keep up, to adapt, to stay ahead of the curve and lead change. But how do we teach creativity? Is it indeed teachable?

I believe that it comes down to space. Pupils need to be allowed the space in their learning to take in information, process it and then develop the skills to apply their own angle to what they have learnt. They need to be given permission to understand things on a different level to their peers, to find an alternative route, to go against the grain. At More House School, we encourage engagement in the arts to help facilitate that space and support pupils in finding a voice. Our small class sizes build confidence and foster independent thought. We place enormous value on going offpiste as a way of enriching the curriculum and raising attainment. By delivering a knowledge-rich curriculum within

A DIFFERENT VIEW Above and below: Girls at More House School explore new ways of learning

well-defined expectations of behaviour for learning, our girls feel safe enough to explore. As Einstein famously said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun”.

It is no surprise that many of the world’s most successful creative thinkers in business (Richard Branson, Lord Sugar, Jamie Oliver) are also dyslexic. They were educated in a system in which they were not classed as academic. At More House, we do not pigeonhole children with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities. Our mission is to ensure that each child is able to carve out their own route to accessing the learning and we celebrate the many gifts that they bring to the community.

In a post-pandemic world, our education system remains under the spotlight, so it is time to take stock and ask ourselves whether we are really equipping our young people with the tools they need for futures as global citizens.

In my first headship, I am determined that our school challenges preconceptions around creativity and intellect and equips our pupils with the tools they need to embrace the fourth industrial revolution in a changing world. L morehouseschool.org.uk