Creativity in Science: NEPI Meeting 4 - 2nd year

On Thursday 26th March, we hosted our fourth North East Primary Innovators (NEPI) day of the academic year at Hoults Yard. The event brought together Science Curriculum Leads from a range of schools for a highly engaging and productive day focused on Creativity in Science.

Creativity in Science

We were delighted to welcome Rachel Simpson, a highly experienced primary education specialist, to lead the day. Her career spans schools, universities and international contexts, with a strong research focus on creativity in education. Rachel is currently completing a PhD exploring how creative teaching enhances pre-service teachers’ engagement and resilience. In addition to her academic work, she collaborates closely with schools to deliver professional development and workshops. She is also recognised as an Honorary Fellow of Durham University and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

The morning session focused on Working Scientifically within Primary Science through the lens of the five creative habits of mind. Participants explored what creativity looks like in Science and considered how creative thinking skills can be developed through meaningful learning experiences. A practical activity enabled delegates to engage with key creative habits, including making connections, exploring possibilities, and applying intuition. This was complemented by a focus on fostering inquisitiveness through questioning, investigation and the challenging of assumptions. The session concluded with Rachel sharing a wide range of resources and approaches to support the development and embedding of creative habits of mind within Primary Science, alongside a discussion of diverse creative enquiry opportunities.

In the afternoon, participants reflected on the morning’s learning before engaging in collaborative planning of a science topic, drawing on Rachel’s expertise and guidance.

Overall, the day provided a valuable opportunity to celebrate and strengthen creativity in science, with participants leaving feeling inspired and equipped with practical ideas and some with a planned science topic to implement in their own schools.