A film-maker whose work includes an Oscar-nominated animation has been inspiring Bradford schoolchildren and teachers to get creative with their own film projects.

Barney Goodland, who has worked on children’s animation The Gruffalo, was here this month as part of the Bradford Film Literacy Programme.

This latest phase of the programme, called Film-makers In The Classroom, brings professional film-makers to work alongside pupils and teachers in Bradford. Going out to 900 pupils across the district, it is funded by Cape UK, the Arts Council’s ‘bridge organisation’ for Yorkshire working with arts and cultural sectors to boost children’s creativity, self-belief and access to arts experiences. Based in Yorkshire and the North West, Cape UK plays a key role in advising Government on creativity and learning.

Following Mr Goodland’s visit, when he met pupils and teachers at the Design Exchange in Little Germany, six local film-makers are working with youngsters in the classroom, helping schools to make their own films. In June, schools will have the opportunity to showcase their work at the National Media Museum.

Bradford Film Literacy Programme is aimed at teaching children about film and the moving image, encouraging them to watch films and inspiring them to create films of their own.

The film literacy strategy highlights the idea that, since children and young people receive much of their education, information and entertainment via moving images, they should be media and culturally literate too. David Wilson, director of Bradford City of Film, says film literacy helps children to ‘read’ the films and moving image texts they consume daily, and ‘write’ their own for others to watch.

He adds: “For most young people, if they experience film education at all it is as isolated episodes that lack consistency and progression. Bradford wants to move film education on from being a series of disconnected experiences to becoming an integral part of every young person’s life – a systematic process in which confidence and articulacy grow by having the opportunity to see a wide range of films, gain a critical understanding of film and enjoy the creative activity of film-making.”

Film education in Bradford is providing children and young people with opportunities to watch a range of film using new technologies and platforms; encouraging learning, critical understanding, writing and debate about films and issues they raise; enabling young people to use film as a vehicle for creativity, and encouraging the film industry to respect their voices.

City of Film Learn Board chairman Sarah Mumford, working with a team including Paul Scott, curriculum innovation manager for Bradford Children’s Services, and Mark Reid, British Film Institute head of education, has worked with lead practitioners and primary teachers on a programme embedding film literacy into the primary curriculum. When launched in 2010, it focused on improving boys’ writing achievement, and teacher feedback was positive.

It led to a change in literacy programming, with film playing a greater role in the classroom. Bradford’s programme was monitored by Film 21st Century Literacy, the Film Education Strategy for the UK, alongside other pilot film education projects, and the BFI announced a substantial commitment to film education.

In Bradford, the 2010/2011 programme was followed up by a three-year literacy project, monitored by a PhD student placement co-funded by the University of Bradford and Bradford City of Film. Holding the post is film and literacy PhD student Franzi Florack, who has a first-class film degree, has been involved in a range of arts projects, including the Student Film Festival London, and now works for the Bradford-Whistling Woods International Film School.

Franzi says despite a constant rise in SATs results, “the perception remains that British primary schoolchildren are under-achieving and are reluctant readers and writers”.

She sees film as a visual stimulus for giving pupils ideas and creating a “personal and emotional connection with the written text”.

“Since its invention, film has continued to affect human beings in a way very few other media can. My PhD discusses the connection between emotions that films can evoke and children’s potential engagement with writing as a result,” says Franzi, who will observe Year 5 classes over 2014/15.

The Bradford Primary Film Literacy Project is being rolled out to as many primary schools in Bradford as possible by the end of year three, in 2015. Primary schools involved so far have included Newby in West Bowling; Iqra in Manningham; Low Ash in Wrose; St Columba’s at Tong Street and Greengates.