Kellington Primary School Arts Week
For nearly two years we have been working on improving our outdoor area, a big part of which was the re-designing of our school garden. Much work had been carried out by children, staff and volunteers to create a global garden and a sensory garden. This was the inspiration for our arts project, as we wanted to improve the gardens still further, though not necessarily with more planting. So we came up with the idea of creating mosaic signs for the sensory garden and a stone sculpture for the global garden.
We had been made aware, by our Extended Schools Coordinator, that funding may be available through the National Lottery Awards for All scheme. We made our application on the grounds that our project would fall into line with the government’s initiative that all schools work to improve community cohesion. The project would be based in school, but every member of the local community would be invited to join in during the week’s activities. It was decided that the ultimate aim was to produce three major pieces of art: mosaic garden signs, an outdoor stone carving and an indoor ceramic piece depicting the history and geography of the local area. Our application was granted and we were awarded £8,110!
The arts week began on Saturday 28 March, with a preparation day held in the village hall attended by over 40 people, including school staff, children, parents, governors, members of the local community and Rural Arts artists Angela Hall (ceramics) and Rick Havely (mosaics).
During the following week the whole school took part in arts workshops. Sculptor Jennifer Tetlow led a week-long stone carving workshop in the village hall and after school workshops in stone carving, ceramics and mosaics were held for children and parents, who commented on how much they had enjoyed the workshops.
The week culminated in a very well attended school assembly, during which Angela and Jennifer, with the help of some of the children, gave a summary of the work that had been done, with some of the finished pieces on display.
Years 5 & 6 students commented:
Hard work, but fun.
Something new, fun and enjoyable.
Can we do it again?
Nikki Hesp,
School Business Manager
