Arts and Textiles teacher Andria Zafirakou from London has just been awarded a Global Teaching Prize for her contribution to the profession. Zafirakou provides exceptional opportunities for her students, many of whom are from a disadvantaged and multi-cultural background. She has learnt basic phrases from many different languages, offers extra lesson time for those who can’t do school work at home, runs an after-school boxing club to provide a safe outlet for students and pushes every child to express themselves through art and reach their full potential.

Zafirakou is a strong advocate for the arts in education and the opportunities this can offer to students to stay engaged with their learning.

“I am proud to be an art and textiles teacher. The arts have to fight for space in the curriculum and for funding. They are often the first budgets to be cut, this is so wrong.

“The arts teach students how to think creatively, which will be important for the jobs they are likely to do when they leave school. They also teach resilience and that perseverance can pay off. For my students, the arts provide a sanctuary, a place where they can safely express themselves and connect with their identity.

“We know that students who spend more time on the arts become more successful at the rest of their studies too – my students are evidence of this.” Andria Zafirakou.

Cambridge University Press also values the importance of the arts in education. We provide a range of resources for secondary students including our new series: Cambridge VCE Product Design and Technology Units 1–4.

The authors of this series have created a resource that supports a variety of learners to foster creativity and expression. With a complementary workbook that offers activities that blend theory and practice Cambridge VCE Product Design and Technology is a complete resource package.

Watch a short video with author Eloise Warburton as she explains how students who may struggle with literacy are supported by this resource.