The University of Sydney
Curl Curl North Primary School began its academic partnership with Professor Robyn Ewing in 1999 (Framing a Professional Learning Culture: An Australian Case Study 1999). Several classroom teachers expressed an interest in being mentored in the practices of developing Critical Literacy and Drama using authentic literary texts. Each year the mentoring was extended to other interested teachers and broadened by professional learning sessions with academics in the field of teaching the Creative Arts in primary school. Creative Arts lessons given by University of Sydney pre-service primary teachers were also part of the professional learning exchange.
Further professional learning for staff and links with the University of Sydney occurred when we were involved in quality teaching projects (NSW DET 2003) in 2006 and 2007. Our mentor Dr David Smith guided us through these projects. Writing outcomes for students have been enhanced through a rich Literacy program based on authentic texts, which incorporates the Creative Arts (2006 – 2009 and beyond). Student writing was benchmarked and Primary Writing Assessment outcomes were also tracked (2006 - 2008) with the assistance of Professor Robyn Ewing.
Current links with The University of Sydney include providing internships and practicum contexts for pre-service teachers. In 2009 Curl Curl North is involved in a quantitative research study funded by Northern Sydney Regional Arts on the benefits of using Readers’ Theatre to improve Reading outcomes. Our academic partners in this innovative study are Professors Andrew Martin and Robyn Ewing. This study is part of a major research project by The University of Sydney and the Sydney Theatre Company on the benefits of process Drama for the development of Critical Literacy.