Where Did the Magic Go?

Abstract Book of the 10th International Conference on Future of Teaching and Education

Year: 2025

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Where Did the Magic Go?

Claire-Gillian McIntosh

ABSTRACT:

The transition from primary to secondary education often marks a shift from creative,
interdisciplinary learning in primary schools to a structured subject-specific curriculum of
secondary schools, raising the question, “Where did the magic go?”. Primary education is
typically defined by exploratory learning that engages young people with a variety of subjects
through creative projects. However, in secondary education, the focus tends to shift towards a
segmented, assessment-driven approach, often resulting in a loss of creative teaching strategies
more prevalent in earlier years. This paper investigates the potential for transferring key skills
including problem-solving, collaboration, and adaptability from primary into secondary
education and beyond. Through classroom observations in both primary and secondary schools,
this study explores how creativity is approached in different educational settings from the
perspectives of both teachers and students. The research also examines whether these skills are
embedded or lost in the context of more formal educational structures, utilising focus groups
from both primary and secondary school pupils to gain insights into their experiences. The study
highlights barriers to creativity and skill transfer in secondary education and suggests practical
strategies and resources for reintegrating creative learning practices, drawing on a teachers
specialist knowledge to drive forward an interdisciplinary and real world learning approach.
Overall, the paper advocates for the preservation of the creative and collaborative skills
developed in primary education, emphasising their importance of fostering lifelong learning and
ensuring that young people are equipped to apply these skills throughout their educational
journey and into the professional environment.

Keywords: Primary; Secondary; Lifelong-Long Learning; Collaboration; Creativity