Ten Stories for Ten Years: Educational Resources

Simon Pile, Assistant Headteacher at Anson Primary School in London, tells us how using Into Film resources has changed the teaching at his school.

"Anson Primary is situated in Brent, one of London's most diverse boroughs. Our school has a large number of children for whom English isn't their first language, and a high percentage of pupils with special educational needs. Using film has improved their creativity and language skills, and helped them share their opinions and ideas more easily.

The successful integration of watching, making and understanding film, both inside and outside the classroom, is only possible for three reasons: the children's passion for film, the willingness of our teachers to break traditional boundaries in education, and the resources available on Into Film's website.

I think they're particularly good for teaching around Calendar Days. For example, the school usually produces a video with an eSafety message for Safer Internet Day. But using Into Film's internet safety resources - including the Staying Safe Online PowerPoint presentation - Key Stage 2 staff could help pupils devise their own top 10 tips for a safer internet.

The filmmaking guides have been invaluable for helping our novice filmmakers, from ensuring their story is well told, to thinking about lighting, camera angles and editing. We now have an annual Anson Film Festival and the whole school takes part in creating their own films.

Film, and the resources available from Into Film, are inspiring teachers with new ways to support the broad and balanced curriculum on offer. They're also helping our students develop socially and emotionally, offering them a higher level of education and aspiration that children from Brent so desperately need."