The Kemnal Academies Trust is one of the largest Multi-Academy Trusts in the South and East of England with 45 Special, Primary, Secondary and All Through Academies in the TKAT Family.

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Successful joint bid for TKAT and the Turner Contemporary Gallery

In the year of the 250th anniversary of the birth of JMW Turner, TKAT and the Turner Contemporary Gallery are delighted to announce that they have been successful in a joint bid to Paul Hamlyn Foundation and their Teacher Development Fund.

Catherine Sutton, Head of PHF's Programme – Education, said: 

“Learning through the arts can engage and inspire young people, support key educational outcomes, and develop skills that prepare them for the next phase of their lives. Bringing arts into schools can help children to overcome barriers to learning and make a real and lasting difference to school communities. We are delighted to announce the partnerships that have received a grant in the latest round of the Teacher Development Fund. We were impressed by the quality of applications and look forward to seeing how the projects equip teachers with the skills and confidence to build equitable, arts-rich classrooms where all learners can thrive.” 

The project has secured over £150,000 to support art-based teaching and learning in primary schools over the next 2 years. The Gallery's Head of Learning and Participation Toby Parkin said:

“We’re proud to launch We Can Do Art in partnership with TKAT, supporting teachers to build the confidence, skills and creativity needed to embed art across the curriculum. At Turner Contemporary, we believe that every child deserves access to high-quality, meaningful and creative experiences. This project will not only equip teachers to deliver inspiring art lessons, but also nurture children’s creativity, critical thinking and curiosity – qualities that are vital to their future.”

Paul Hamlyn Foundation's generous funding will enable the Gallery, its education team and its Art practitioners to work with TKAT's 8 primary schools in Kent and Medway over the next 2 academic years, starting in September 2025.

Teachers and their classes from each school will be able to visit the Gallery twice a year to enjoy an exciting workshop with an Artist and the Gallery's education team. The Artists will also visit the children in their schools every year. The purpose of the project is to develop all the teachers in a primary school and to boost their skills and confidence for delivering excellent arts-based teaching and learning.

Salmestone Headteacher Tom Platten said: 

"We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Turner Contemporary and Paul Hamlyn Foundation on developing our teaching practices and art curriculum. This is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen our partnership with the Gallery as well as develop art pedagogy across eight of our TKAT Primary Schools. We believe that every child, no matter their background, deserves the right to enjoy brilliant art teaching and benefit from the enormous benefits that art can bring to their lives." 

TKAT and the Turner Contemporary Gallery are also excited about the opportunities to share their learning from the project with other primary schools.

 
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