Art UK launches free visual literacy programme for every Primary School in the UK

RENOWNED national charity, Art UK, has now launched a free programme, The Superpower of Looking®, to equip young people with the visual literacy skills that have become essential to successfully navigate the modern, image-saturated world.

In the UK, it is estimated that young adults have a combined total of approximately 10 million photographs on their smartphones. Additionally, recent analysis found that by 2030 there will be 382 billion images on Google Images. Against this expansive backdrop of our increasingly visual world and the rapid developments of AI, it is vital that young people are empowered to fully embrace the opportunities of digital advancements of the evolving world around them and the future advancement still to come.

An evidence based programme, The Superpower of Looking accelerates curriculum development by providing free resources that empower students to:- critically observe, analyse, question and interpret images and communicate with confidence. This includes:- bespoke films, full lesson resources, Teacher training videos, a lesson toolkit and access to Art UK's digital database of artworks, which includes more than 300,000 pieces of work by more than 500,000 artists across more than 3,400 British institutions.

This launch follows the completion of 2 successful pilots in partnership with 70 Schools in England and Scotland which found that The Superpower of Looking:-

Increases pupils' confidence.
Improves visual literacy skills across all assessed areas, including:- understanding new concepts, substantiating points with evidence during peer discussions, critical thinking and more.
Achieves high pupil engagement with lesson materials.
Increases pupils' interest in cultural education spaces.

Additionally, 95% of Teachers that participated in the pilots reported feeling confident incorporating the resources into their classes and 92% said they would recommend the programme to their peers.

Adele Darlington, EYFS Teacher and Art Lead at Leighfield Primary School, said:- "The Superpower of Looking brings art to life in the classroom, for both students and their Teachers. I've seen how the programme inspired my pupils to stop and look at the world around them through a more critical lens and with deeper focus, and have seen them carry this into other areas of their learning. Watching my pupils' enthusiasm in the classroom grow after The Superpower of Looking lessons has been inspiring. For children who may never have engaged with arts and culture or been to visit a gallery before, it's been a genuinely transformative experience."

Katie Leonard, Head of Learning at Art UK, said:- "At a time when digital mediums and imagery play an increasingly important and influential role, it is vital that we are empowering young people with the knowledge, confidence and skills to successfully navigate the world around them. By launching The Superpower of Looking today, we are making more than 300,000 works of art from more than 3,400 British institutions available to young people across the country. It is our hope that by doing so, this programme will help embed visual literacy in the primary curriculum and make art an integral and accessible part of every Primary School classroom in the UK."

The Superpower of Looking is supported by Freelands Foundation. For more information about The Superpower of Looking and to sign up to the programme, please visit:- ArtUK.Org.

Children's savings rates increase by over 160%

WITH October Half Term just round the corner, financial experts at:- Money.Co.UK savings accounts have revealed now could be the perfect time for people to review their child's savings pot. Whether they already have a small pot earning interest or they wish to start saving for their child's future, now is the ideal time to review savings goals. Interest rates on children's savings accounts are still strong, as year on year there has been a huge increase. For instant access accounts for children, at the beginning of 2022 the average interest rate was:- 0.59%, before rising to 1.32%, in October 2022. Fast forward to 12 months later, the average interest rate for a junior instant access account is:- 3.44%; an increase of 160.61%. Similarly, junior cash ISAs had an average interest rate of:- 2.35%, in October 2022, but this has now risen to:- 3.98%; a 69.36% increase over the past 12 months. Junior fixed rate accounts have experienced a more modest increase, with the average interest rate standing at:- 3.34% before rising to:- 4.21% this month.

Lucinda O'Brien, expert at Money.Co.UK savings accounts, said:- "With average rates looking positive, it's worth taking advantage of this if your money is currently earning little to no interest. What's more, some experts believe rates may have peaked due to the Bank of England's decision to keep the base rate at 5.25%. However, rates are always changing, so it's best to compare savings accounts to find the best option for your family. Currently, HSBC MySavings has an instant access children's account with an interest rate of 5% on balances up to:- £3,000. This account is perfect for helping your child learn how to handle money as it can be opened by anyone aged:- 7 to 17. If you would like your child to get into the habit of regular saving, Coventry Building Society has a young regular saver account with an interest rate of 5.25%. It allows deposits of:- £1 to:- £100 each month and withdrawals are flexible. Alternatively, if you would prefer to put money away for your child to access when they turn 18 they can opt for a junior ISA. Coventry Building Society currently offers the top interest rate at 4.95% and no withdrawals are permitted until your child's 18th birthday. Fixed-rate bonds are also good for long term saving; Saffron Building Society has a 2 year fixed rate children's bond at 5.50%. Interest will be paid annually, and the minimum balance is:- £500. Currently, all the children's savings accounts mentioned above beat the average for each type of account, so there are definitely still competitive deals available for parents and guardians to take advantage of over the October Half Term."

For more information and guidance on saving, including:- the best savings rates available today, visit:- Money.Co.UK.

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Art UK launches free visual literacy programme for every Primary School in the UK

Children's savings rates increase by over 160%