The Creative Arts K–6 Syllabus (2024) includes:

• a streamlined structure, with creative arts practices explicitly labelled, to make it easier to identify essential information
• a clear progression of learning through the interrelated practices in dance, drama, music and visual arts
• new content to build an understanding of Cultural arts practices in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
• an explicit focus on art forms and styles from a range of cultures and contexts so students can deepen their knowledge and intercultural understanding
• creating written texts content, including an outcome in Stage 3, to strengthen students vocabulary development and deepen their understanding of creative arts
• teaching advice and examples that strengthen understanding of syllabus content to support teachers in making informed pedagogical decisions
• access content points for students with significant intellectual disability.

The following diagram shows the organisation of the outcomes and content for the Creative Arts K–6 Syllabus (2024).

Prior to implementing the Creative Arts K–6 Syllabus (2024), leaders will need to consider the following:

• The complexities for staff working towards the familiarisation and implementation of four new syllabuses, Creative Arts, HSIE, PDHPE and Science and Technology – the department’s Models of curriculum implementation – primary provides for variations when these four syllabuses will be enacted which will impact planning, programming, assessment and reporting across the school.
• Supporting teachers’ understanding of Protocols for collaborating with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities and engaging with Cultural and heritage works.
• Planning, resource and budget implications including
  • time for staff to engage with the syllabus and build their knowledge and understanding of essential content and the interrelated practices of each focus area
  • identifying teacher strengths and expertise to support curriculum implementation
  • professional learning to build staff capacity, including explicit teaching and Curriculum planning K–12 to optimise learning for all students in creative arts
  • equipment and materials that may be useful to support learning.

The Creative Arts K–6 Syllabus (2024) is based on evidence highlighting that:

• the arts foster the development of creativity and the imagination, and early exposure to the arts for all children needs to be a priority in the curriculum (Ewing 2010)
• high-quality, arts-rich learning experiences are an educational and artistic entitlement for all students (Bamford 2009)
• students develop cultural capital and intercultural understandings through the arts by engaging with local, national and international cultural heritages (Thomson and Hall 2023)
• a knowledge-rich curriculum creates the foundation for excellence and equity in the education system by prioritising and explicitly outlining the essential knowledge and related skills that students should be taught and develop at each stage of their schooling (AERO 2024)
• writing about content enhances learning across subjects and stages; writing about what is read improves comprehension. Knowledge is extended and strengthened by the act of writing. While writing is complex and does not develop naturally, the process can be enhanced when writing to learn instruction and writing practice take place frequently (Graham et al. 2020; Graham and Herbert 2011; Graham et al. 2018; Aero 2022).

Creative Arts K–6 © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2024.

• What school practices and systems are in place to support teacher understanding of the Creative Arts K–6 Syllabus (2024) and the evidence underpinning it?
• What evidence is there that staff have understood syllabus changes and familiarised themselves with the new syllabus?
• How will the current skills and understanding of staff enable collaborative curriculum implementation? What explicit systems are in place to foster collaboration?
• How are expert teachers identified and used to build the teaching knowledge and capacity of colleagues?
• Which communities of practice does the school collaborate with to enhance teacher curriculum knowledge and pedagogy?

• Creative Arts K–6 Syllabus (2024) © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2024 (accessed July 30, 2024)
• Introduction to Creative Arts K–6 video (4:17) (NESA 2024)
• Planning, programming and assessing creative arts K–6