Case study
Secondary:
T_h e rural challenge
Dorothy Lepkowska visits Mounts Bay School in Cornwall to f_i nd out how they are
overcoming the challenges of a rural setting to delivery the Diploma
UT OF necessity, consortia very useful in the development of 14 to 19 miles away which is a half-hour drive time. So
O
off ering Diplomas in rural provision for the partnership.” it is quite isolating.
locations often have to be more Students of Creative and Media have been “People tend to forget how far away we are
creative about how they deliver working on a number of exciting projects here. Most people tend to think of Bristol as
them than those in urban and inner city using the OB unit. T_h e Cornish Pirates the South West, but that is four hours away
areas. rugby team, for example, have commissioned from here.”
Smaller towns usually have fewer facilities, them to fi lm its matches, with learners Last term, Creative and Media students
and the distances between schools involved forming part of the fi lm crew. T_h e games worked with the Acorn Art Centre in
in the same partnerships may be long and are screened live to an online, pay-per-view Penzance on a production with the theme of
hard to negotiate. television channel, with an audience of identity, which sold out within days. Learners
But staff delivering the Creative and around 2,000 viewers. were involved in performing, as well as front
Media Diploma at the Penwith Partnership T_h ey are also involved in the creation of of house, advertising and other roles to learn
in southern Cornwall, have come up with a new soap opera centred around Cornwall, fi rst-hand how a theatre operates.
innovative ways of ensuring their learners do which will be aired on a new television channel “It was quite adventurous and a great
not miss out. called Garfunkel TV, from later this year. success,” said Lauren Cumes, drama teacher
If they cannot get their students to the “Our students have been involved in some at Humphry Davy School in Penzance, which
major art galleries, museums and fi lm acting, fi lming, editing and producing as is part of the same consortium. “We gave the
studios, then those facilities come to them. well as trying their hand at other related students the opportunity to decide what they
Les Hall, deputy head at Mounts Bay disciplines, such as advertising. We are also wanted to do so they had experience of the
School in Penzance, organised funding from trying to get pupils from years 7, 8 and 9 diff erent aspects of working in a theatre.”
the Rural Capital Development Fund to involved so they can develop an enthusiasm In the coming term, learners will be
pay for a vehicle that could be adapted as for the subject which they will then carry on working with the Tate St Ives, which will be
an outside broadcast (OB) unit for schools to considering doing the Diploma,” he added. preparing to host an exhibition from one of its
off ering the Diploma. “We want to tie the Diploma into the London galleries.
About 100 Level 2 students have been extended school activities generally, so that Students will work in groups with peer
studying for the qualifi cation since its it becomes more a community resource that leaders looking at how art galleries decide
inception in September 2008. everyone can benefi t from. what to exhibit, how best to show off the
T_h e Mercedes Sprinter has a variety of “We hope that the soap opera will piece, and how they can attract visitors.
uses and gives learners scattered across a eventually go national and we have been in By the spring, they will be helping the Tate
wide geographical area equal opportunities contact with Channel 4 to try to promote it.” to prepare for the arrival and exhibition of the
for access to, among other things, its mobile T_h e Department for Children, Schools artwork.
cinema and editing suite. and Families is now looking at the way “It is very exciting because this is how it is
“We call the OB van Spriggan, which is a that schools are using the OB van and are in real life for the gallery and the students will
Cornish pixie-type character from folklore considering their use in a case study about be directly involved with it,” Ms Cumes said.
who causes mischief and then disappears,” how consortia partners operate in a rural area. “We really have to think hard about how we
Mr Hall said. “T_h e van has a role in so many “It is not just the distance between schools take advantage of the facilities we have on off er
of the things we are doing that are associated that is the problem here, but the time it takes in our locality, and it’s great that organisations
with the Diploma, and beyond. It is proving to travel between schools. Some are up to 15 such as the Tate will work with us.” DD
26 Delivering Diplomas • Volume 2 No 1 Spring 2010
26-27 case study.indd 2 5/3/10 12:02:26
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