DUNDEE.- An ambitious teacher development project, designed to embed new skills and learning across school planning, and involving 12 teachers across six primary schools in Dundee, comes to completion at the end of this month.

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MAKE with the Knit Shop (MWTKS), is a partnership between MAKE, Knit Shop and Dundee Creative Learning Network, led by Craft Scotland and Panel. It began in Autumn 2023 as a pilot project funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation, to support numeracy skills development in the classroom, and explore the value and potential of teaching craft across the curriculum. Key to this was equipping teachers with the skills, knowledge, confidence, and resources, to teach craft, and create high-quality craft and making opportunities for all.

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Led by Craft Scotland and Panel, and working with pupils from six primary schools in Dundee (Ancrum Road, Claypotts Castle, Fintry, Rosebank, St Mary’s and Downfield), MWTKS aimed to foster new craft-based approaches that support numeracy skills development in the classroom. It was developed in response to key recommendations included in the Craft and Making Education in Scotland report, by Rosemary James-Beith. The report was published in 2021 and showed that 88% of teachers felt that access to resources for materials and tools was a barrier to teaching craft in the classroom. A further 80% of teachers also felt that Career Long Professional Learning training (CLPL) would be useful to support them to develop their craft teaching abilities and capacities; and another 60% felt that a peer network of teachers was what they would need.

Over a two-year period, teachers attended CLPL residencies in Dundee, led by project partner Knit Shop and three independent textile makers: Jolene Guthrie, Kim Norrie and Kate Scarlet Harvey (each working with a different textile expertise). The makers were engaged to support the teachers, equipping them with craft-making skills, and sharing their ideas for delivering effective craft-based learning in the classroom. In addition, the teachers involved their classes in lessons, and were given access to practical guides, films, and resource packs to encourage exploration of traditional and contemporary craft processes.

Textiles is a broad area involving many different processes (knitting, weaving, printing, drawing) all of which use maths and numerical approaches and support numeracy development. However, early on in the project it was recognised that craft had a broader contribution to make to education including creativity, interdisciplinary learning, employability, and learning for sustainability. The project also evidenced that it can support mental health, resilience and wellbeing in the classroom. This recognition resulted in the programme shifting to focus on how craft approaches in schools can support not just numeracy, but a range of learning outcomes.

Catriona Duffy and Lucy McEachan, Co-directors of Panel and founders of MAKE said: “The outcomes of MAKE with the Knit Shop clearly evidence that young people in Scotland can access a range of benefits by learning through craft. Crucially, the project has also shown us that teachers, when given the opportunity to learn, explore and adapt craft skills, are developing new craft-based approaches to learning and using them as a solid alternative to traditional routes. Embedding this kind of material education within our primary schools is vital in developing the self-esteem, creativity and confidence of our young people.”

Donna Wilson, founder of Knit Shop said: “Finding diverse ways to engage with learning in the classroom is vital, and MAKE with the Knit Shop really reflects that. The craft techniques we teach are simple and accessible, but they’re also mindful – involving repetitive movements that help with concentration and support wellbeing. In today’s world full of distractions, it’s valuable to focus on something tactile and calming. Teaching a basic yet meaningful life skill like this is something every educator should feel confident in. For us, hands-on, material-based learning is absolutely essential.”
Jennifer Heffell, Head Teacher at Rosebank Primary School said: “Craft has the capacity to really open up the idea that everyone can be creative and I have found that this is really important for building confidence within the staff team. Through the MAKE with the Knit Shop Career Long Professional Learning training, our teachers have been able to believe: ‘Not only can I do this, but I can teach it with a class of

quite challenging children’. This kind of self-belief is crucial for the teaching team – for their own development, and to share with other teachers as well as their pupils.”
Phil McGregor, Education Support Officer for Music, Performing Arts and Culture at Dundee Creative Network said: "Make with The Knit Shop (MWTKS) has been an inspiring and impactful project over the past two years! It's great to see how well thought out projects like MWTKS not only impact creative and practical learning, but also core academic skills. Craft activities can make learning more engaging and help students develop a range of skills, from problem-solving to fine motor skills.
Equipping teachers with the necessary skills, knowledge, and confidence to integrate craft into their teaching practice will have long-lasting benefits for pupils both in and out of the classroom.”

“I really loved the knit project and everything with it. It is calm and relaxing. I've learned to use lots of different things and hope I can do more of it next year.” Primary 6 Pupil.

To encourage other schools across Scotland to share in the success of craft-based approaches to learning, the MWTKS team is creating a series of free to access lesson plans, handbooks and ‘how to’ videos, designed to illustrate how craft approaches can help pupils meet a range of Experiences and Outcomes. These resources and a full report detailing the project’s outcomes will be published in September.