Rethinking Curriculum – Electric Umbrella “No Such Thing as Normal”
Creativity and The Arts offer pathways to inclusion across the curriculum. We are delighted to share the work of Electric Umbrella with you and how this is supporting schools to be more inclusive in all they do. Electric Umbrella uses music and real life stories/experiences of its members to unite school communities and ignite vital conversations surrounding equity, diversity and inclusion. Through vibrant in person workshops, interactive online assemblies and via the transformative UK wide Inclusion Academy, in which schools will be able to sign up for the Electric Umbrella Accreditation Awards, Electric Umbrella can support you in your journey to building a sustainable ethos of inclusion; ensuring that a culture of kindness becomes a lived experience for schools.
This webinar comes to you as part of the Rethinking Curriculum webinar series. The project aims to support and equip teachers and school leaders with the knowledge and skills to identify, plan and implement curriculum development work in a sustainable, creative and place-based approach. This will mean that all pupils will have access to an expansive, inspiring curriculum that connects them with local communities and enables them to lead healthy, fulfilled lives.
The session will be hosted by Jenna Crittenden ( Teacher Advocacy Lead)
Speakers:
Jenna Crittenden is Teacher Advocacy Lead at the Chartered College of Teaching, leading a national project ‘Rethinking Curriculum’ that aims to support and equip teachers and school leaders with the knowledge and skills to identify, plan and implement curriculum development work in a sustainable, context specific and impactful approach. This will mean that all pupils will have access to an expansive, inspiring curriculum that connects them with local communities and enables them to lead healthy, fulfilled lives. Jenna also leads the college teacher advocacy work, from fellowship round tables to policy engagement. Prior to joining the college Jenna has been a Primary Headteacher, Curriculum Design lead, governor and also acts as a trustee for MTPT and Team Up.
Mel Boda is co-founder and CEO of Electric Umbrella which creates amazing, interactive, live music experiences with learning disabled people, and in doing so, it helps change the way the world looks at them – and others. Since establishing Electric Umbrella ten years ago, the organisation has developed beyond the essential delivery of opportunities for learning disabled people to increasingly focusing on education and changing perceptions to enable a society that is more inclusive and integrated. This growth and Mel’s leadership has enabled the organisation to become a voice. Mel is now championing this movement with both children and adults. The schools programme has reached 40,000 children and teachers in the past year. New opportunities are emerging to partner with large organisations to reinvent approaches to EDI and ultimately enable them to provide improved services for everyone. Mel is passionately committed to expanding the work of Electric Umbrella and its influence nationally.
Claire Boulter is Head of Education at Electric Umbrella. Having studied at the University of Birmingham and Trinity Laban (BA Hons and MMus with Distinction) Claire has performed worldwide as a classical and musical theatre singer, as well as working within creative arts education in mainstream and SEND settings. Whether it’s through developing choir leader schemes or designing cross-curricular programmes of work, Claire is passionate about introducing educational and choral leaders to the “Electric Umbrella” way; where music unites, inspires and enables a more inclusive and holistic approach to lifelong learning and joy.
Simon Putman has been a Primary Head Teacher for 16 years and in education for over 30 years – he worked with Dame Alison Peacock as her Deputy Headteacher at Wroxham school and was part of the Creating Learning Without Limits team of teachers there; believing passionately that “that human potential is not predictable, that children’s futures are unknowable, that education has the power to enhance the lives of all”…
“When I first came across Electric Umbrella and saw how their fantastic online Music Machine broadcasts enthralled and excited my SEN children I had to book an Express Crew visit. The impact of the work Electric Umbrella has had on my school community has been immeasurable and empowering. Classes were inclusive anyway but now even more so and the whole school has wholeheartedly embraced the ethos of ‘There’s No Such Thing as Normal’.
