Enhancing curriculum experience through film skills
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Information about the school
Ysgol Pen-y-Bryn is situated on two sites in Morriston and Penlan in Swansea and is maintained by the City and County of Swansea local authority. It is a special school for pupils from four to 19 years with moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and autistic spectrum conditions. Pupils come from all areas of the City and County of Swansea and in addition there are three pupils from other authorities.
The school provides residential accommodation for a few pupils aged from 14 to 19 years. Nearly all the pupils have a statement of special educational needs, which include physical, sensory, medical, emotional and behavioural difficulties.
English is the predominant language of nearly all pupils and no pupils speak Welsh as their first language at home. There are a few pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds and a very few pupils for whom English is an additional language. Around 42% of pupils are in receipt of free school meals.
Context and background to the effective or innovative practice
Film skills at Pen y Bryn has developed from the school’s successful enterprise programmes such as Pen y Bryn Books and Pen y Bryn Films productions.
The enterprise initiative originally focused on termly projects developing and producing professional quality books with interactive digital content. The school has printed over 20 publications, which have also been downloaded more than 20,000 times in as many as 49 countries across the globe. This has led to animations; narrated green screen silhouette animated short films; live action silent films with voice over, narration and live action films with dialogue.
The film skills curriculum results in producing three films annually and culminates in an official launch at the end of each term, which includes access for public viewing on the Pen y Bryn Films social media platform. Each film is accompanied by the production of a professional quality magazine giving insight into how the film is made and a variety of features linked to each project.
In line with the principles of the Curriculum for Wales and the development of authentic learning experiences, the school aims to create a programme for pupils to understand and gain industry standard experience of film making. With the support of the school’s partnership with industry professionals, pupils use these skills to produce professional quality work.
Description of nature of strategy or activity
Film skills are provided to all pupils on a rotating termly carousel. This plan allows all pupils to contribute to both a film production and an accompanying magazine.
All aspects of film making are explored including sensory lessons for the school’s most complex learners to production design for the school’s sixth form learners. Pupils are supported in developing technical skills in camera work, lighting, sound effects, editing and special effects and are encouraged to develop creative expression alongside technical skills in acting, set design, prop making, storyboard writing, composing musical scores and choosing soundtracks.
The school’s external partnerships enable pupils to experience professional film making environments within commercial film studios as well as at the school. In addition, pupils experience location filming and study associated logistical planning considerations that enable successful film shoots. Learning experiences have included a visit to a professional film studio in Cardiff, a location shoot at Margam Abbey and a question and answer session with a professional prop maker, actor and set designer.
Pupils edit the films’ content and produce a trailer which is uploaded to the school’s social media platform in advance of the film’s release. Pupils practise their graphic design skills when producing a poster to advertise the film.
Producing the accompanying film skills magazine enables pupils to develop further skills as they prepare questions for and conduct interviews, prepare features and consider graphic design requirements.
What impact has this work had on provision and learners’ standards?
Film skills has a significant and positive impact on pupils’ confidence, engagement, resilience, and skill development.
The film skills curriculum enables learners to advance across several Curriculum for Wales areas of learning and experience. It has also had a significant impact in supporting pupils to achieve IEP (individual education plan) targets by supporting the application of several cross curricular skills in a variety of learning contexts.
From September 2022 key stage 4 and sixth form pupils will have the opportunity to undertake work experience placements, which will enable the learners to transfer the skills learnt in film skills into a professional film making work environment.
How have you shared your good practice?
The school uses its social media platforms to celebrate and share the good work completed by pupils. A film skills magazine is produced each term to accompany the film made by the pupils. This is professionally printed and distributed to stakeholders and partners to celebrate and showcase the achievements of the term’s project. This is also available for digital download. Each term the film project has a launch date and premiere screening event, at which parents, governors, partners and guests are welcomed to share in the celebration of the work created by each film skills group. Pre-pandemic the films were launched at a “red carpet” event in a local cinema. The school plans to launch a new film at a professional film studio in Cardiff Bay, in a special event planned for the pupils.
The school has invited various stakeholders to film skills open sessions. These guests have included parents, staff from other schools, members of the Welsh Government, the former Welsh Minister for Education and Professor Graham Donaldson.
In partnership with a professional film making organisation the school has developed a series of freely available film skill lesson plans in Welsh and English for other schools to share. The lessons are aimed at teaching different aspects of film making and are available for pupils of all abilities.