Curriculum for Wales | Expressive Arts | Confidence, Inclusion & Wellbeing
As an educator with over 25 years’ experience working across primary, secondary and Initial Teacher Education in Wales. I currently teach Expressive Arts at BA Education level and Art & Design within Secondary PGCE programmes, supporting future teachers to plan, deliver and evaluate high-quality Curriculum for Wales–aligned provision.
My work is grounded in proven classroom practice. I have a strong track record of examination success, Estyn-recognised excellence of practice, and sustained impact across both school and ITE settings. I am anti-racist Curriculum for Wales trained and Stonewall inclusivity trained, and my practice is underpinned by a strong commitment to accessibility, representation and high-quality learning experiences for all pupils.
Through my experience, one challenge consistently emerges in primary schools: teacher confidence in delivering art. Many teachers value the arts deeply but lack specialist pedagogy, practical frameworks or the time to translate Curriculum for Wales principles into meaningful classroom projects. My strength lies in bridging that gap.
I specialise in breaking down high-quality art projects into clear, manageable steps, making them accessible for non-specialist teachers without lowering expectations or creative ambition. I support schools to design purposeful expressive arts projects that:
align clearly with the Curriculum for Wales
embed anti-racist and inclusive principles
reflect school context and local communities
prioritise pupil voice, identity and wellbeing
support teacher confidence and professional wellbeing
are sustainable
High-quality arts experiences can also play an important role in supporting pupil engagement and attendance. Research into creative enrichment and arts participation highlights positive associations with improved wellbeing, sense of belonging and motivation, all of which are key protective factors for sustained school attendance, particularly for pupils at risk of disengagement.
An afternoon of consultancy is often sufficient to support a staff member or team to design a personalised six-week expressive arts project, tailored precisely to their learners, school priorities and community context.
In addition, I offer:
practical, hands-on staff INSET
one-to-one teacher support
collaborative planning sessions
team-teaching and in-class modelling
I am passionate about ensuring that all children experience high-quality expressive arts education, not as an add-on, but as a meaningful and inclusive part of school life that supports wellbeing, engagement and belonging.