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'Do you KS3?'

Schools partnerships for Key Stage 3 pupils (11-14 yrs)

'The perfect age!' (Gallery Educator)
'Fun and exciting and very messy' (Pupil)
'Fantastic learning experience' (Teacher)
'The success of our project indicates the huge educational value of these collections' (Curator)

introduction

This section of the engage site provides short case studies of 40 exciting projects created by museums and galleries for KS3 pupils, with funding from the Department for Education and Skills, as part of Museums and Galleries Month 2002.

These case studies are relevant to teachers, gallery educators, curators, artists who are thinking of working with this age group, to offer inspiration, to share methodology, to flag up challenges.

These case studies will shortly be accessed though a searchable database - which will include other similar projects funded through the Department for Education and Skills - to enable you to search for projects with similar curricular objectives, to locate museums or galleries local to you, and to make contacts in your area. Further background material on selected case studies will be made available at the same time.

engage has been commissioned by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to produce a short report (available from engage), School and Gallery Partnerships at Key Stage 3, written by Sue Clive to highlight success factors and good practice. engage is also producing a short leaflet on good practice by museums and galleries with KS3.

background and outcomes

'Do you KS3?' was a grants programme managed by engage, and took place as part of 'Museums and Galleries Month' in May 2002 (MGM2002). Funded by DfES, the aim of the programme was to encourage galleries and museums to develop educational programmes which addressed the needs of Keys Stage 3 pupils (KS3) and to build new partnerships with schools.

Grants were allocated by a panel including Campaign for Museums, Group for Education in Museums and engage. The fund supported 40 projects in England, all targeting 11 - 14 year olds. Each project involved the school making an off-site visit to a gallery or museum, as well as offering an opportunity for pupils to work directly with artists. A total of 2090 pupils, 101 teachers and 64 museum/gallery staff took part in the programme, which delivered exciting and unique benefits to both participants and partners.

Projects succeeded in stimulating:

• More positive attitudes to and from the Key Stage 3 age group;
  
• New modules devised by galleries/museums, targeting KS3 pupils;
  
• A greater commitment to museum/gallery visits by schools;
  
• New school/gallery partnerships.

Overall, participating pupils, teachers, and museum/gallery staff recorded that the programme offered:

• Exciting opportunities for creativity, communication, literacy development;
  
• Valuable experiences of different learning environments and other adult 'role models';
  
• Effective opportunities to promote teamwork, self-confidence, motivation;
  
• 'Hands-on' experiences to develop historical enquiry, practical art/craft skills;

Specific benefits to museums and galleries included:

• Awareness of Key Stage 3 as a exciting target group with great potential;
  
• Longer-term involvement of teachers in developing museum/gallery programmes;
  
• Identification of weaknesses including facilities, timetable restraints, curricular knowledge,
  Special needs etc;
  
• Development of new approaches and modules for Key Stage 3;
  
• New school links and opportunities.

Teachers recorded the following benefits for themselves and their schools:

• New teaching and practical skills, including cross-curricular;
  
• Reinforcement of the inspirational value of museum/gallery resources;
  
• Refreshing and stimulating personal experiences;
  
• New contacts - and influence - with museums/galleries, and fellow educators.

For further information on the KS3 grants programme and the selection process, download the KS3 Guidelines.

You will need Acrobat Reader to use this file.

museums and galleries month

'May is the month for discovering something new about our cultural heritage which inspires us now and in the future.' (Charles Saumarez Smith, Director of the National Gallery, engage Trustee, and Co-Chairman of Museums and Galleries Month)

'Museums and Galleries Month is a focus for fresh thinking and initiatives within the museums and galleries sector' (Loyd Grossman, Chairman of the Campaign for Museums, Co-Chairman of Museums and Galleries Month)

Museums and Galleries Month, organised jointly by the Campaign for Museums and engage, is now in its fifth year with over 1,500 museums and galleries taking part. Museum and Galleries Month offers a perfect opportunity for teachers, schools, and other visitors to find out more about the wonderful objects, exhibitions and collections, round the corner from where they live or further afield.

For more details visit the Museums and Galleries Month website at www.may2007.org.uk

'Do you KS3?' case studies