The cabinet meeting yesterday was held at City Hall
CARDIFF council and arts companies have teamed up with schools to help improve student education.
The Creative Education Partnership includes companies like BBC Wales, the Welsh National Museum, Wales Millennium Centre and the University of South Wales.
The project is part of the council’s aim to make sure poorer and underprivileged communities in Cardiff receive a high quality education.
Through creativity and problem-solving, the scheme will give young people the chance to fully engage in the cultural, social and economic life in Cardiff.
The project will be funded for two years by the schools organisation financial model revenue system.
Cabinet Member for Education and Cathays councillor, Sarah Merry, said: “The creative education partnership forges closer links with schools and the creative sector. We are using our advantages such as arts and universities to make sure no child in our city is left behind.
“This deal will not just help children in terms of going on stage or what you might normally associate with the arts but also it links really well with things like information technology. This scheme will benefit schools from across Cardiff.”
Heath councillor, Graham Hinchey, said: “A point from the Estyn report is the importance of getting businesses more involved in schools and we are seeing this a lot more with this paper. I really do think this is great. I can see this growing across the city and I really appreciate Councillor Merry brining this forward.
“In our universities we are seeing clever people coming to Cardiff to be educated, to work and they are staying in the city as a result. This is definitely a positive situation.”
In the cabinet meeting it was announced that the number of people working in creative industries in Wales increased by 52% between 2005 and 2014, to almost 50,000 people.
Peter Bradbury, Caerau councillor, said: “I welcome this scheme because any work to promote arts among young people is to be applauded. It will allow for harder-to-reach parts of the city to benefit with links to BBC Wales and so forth.
“This has put Cardiff on the map which is appropriate as it is about getting more benefits for those in schools. I think this is one very good system where companies have achieved this change and schools have a better understanding of how important partnering is.”
Elizabeth Clark, Cathays councillor, said: “It is an good scheme because by allowing young people to have contact with big companies it is giving them the chance and showing them the importance of fulfilling their potential.”
A spokesperson for the University of South Wales said: “The university is committed to transform the lives of young people to unlock their talent. This is a great project that will help educate students and train them in the best possible way. The University of South Wales is excited to be a part of this initiative.”
