Over £12m of grants will be awarded in 2025-26 to a range of
organisations to support curriculum priorities, including extra
funding for literacy and numeracy projects.
Organisations from the third and public sector, universities and
private companies are invited to bid for the grants to support
schools and settings with expertise, training, materials and
events, securing a range of support from outside organisations.
Projects will focus on a number of key curriculum priorities:
- Curriculum design
- Literacy
- Mathematics and numeracy
- Science and technology
- National Music Service (via the WLGA)
- Foundation learning
Changes have been made to the way grants are awarded to better
reflect how the Curriculum for Wales is taught and to give
teachers what they need to ensure educational inequalities narrow
and standards rise.
The Cabinet Secretary for Education, , said:
“I am delighted to announce this extra funding which will enable
a range of organisations to help schools to bring our curriculum
alive and support key priorities such as numeracy and literacy.
“We are reshaping education to make sure all our young people
aspire to learn and to succeed - giving them the best start in
school and helping us to raise standards.
“Our curriculum gives teachers the flexibility to tailor lessons
to their learners, so they have the skills, knowledge and
experience to reach their full potential in today's world. These
grants are about leveraging the expertise and experience we have
across Wales to help schools make the most of the curriculum.”
Grants will be awarded either directly to organisations who are
uniquely placed to deliver curriculum priorities, or through
competitive bids to organisations targeting particular projects
against clear national support priorities.
Grant awards will align closely to the range of support to
schools and settings to be provided via other organisations, such
as local authorities, Adnodd and the new national professional
learning organisation.
The Arts Council of Wales have previously received funding for
the Creative Learning Programme where creative professionals work
with schools to support creativity and innovation across the
curriculum in subjects as varied as maths, science, humanities
and citizenship.
One of the schools taking part in the Creative Learning Programme
is The Rofft School primary in Marford, Wrexham.
Taking the book ‘Dragons of Wales', by illustrator Andy Frazer as
their inspiration, Year 3 learners at the school created their
own dragons, naming them and setting them in their local
community deciding on diet, appearance and superpowers. They also
looked at life cycles, and skeletal structure, and brought their
ideas to life through 3D modelling and created their own book.
The project enabled learners to examine the history, environment
and myths of Marford to inspire their creative writing.
As a result of being involved in the project one learner, who
previously wouldn't engage in any reading at all, has now started
to read in the class, of his own accord.
Year 3 teacher at the Rofft School, Linda Harrop, said:
“What started out as a fun topic about dragons resulted in
becoming an amazing journey which was supported by the Lead
Creative Schools project, to enhance learning and teaching.
"The children were excited and enthused from day one and even
after the topic came to an end, they have developed a more open
approach to writing and are far more keen to develop their
literacy and creativity skills.”
Grants will be awarded to organisations who have a track record
in supporting learning and teaching in schools and settings and
can demonstrate an understanding of how to help schools implement
the curriculum.
The application window for proposals opened on 29 November 2024
and closes on 31 January 2025.
Details of the programme: The Curriculum for Wales
grant support programme
