Art for Life
Maidenhall is a large primary school in the centre of Luton and most of its pupils come from minority ethnic communities, speaking English as an additional language.
They wanted to explore the separation between the different cultures of home and school, to move the focus beyond literacy and numeracy and look at how standards could be raised through other subjects like art.
They asked the question: How can we work with an artist to explore the links between family and school, and enrich pupils' life experience?
Kiran Patel, a local practitioner with expertise in visual arts, collaborated with year 1 pupils, staff and parents for a term to explore the themes of homes, journeys and communities, through various mediums including clay, paint and print.
Impact
“It's gone beyond art” (Teacher, Maidenhall)
The pupils thoroughly enjoyed the project, developed skills such as concentration and selecting/using different resources and became much more confident in trying new things out. They also developed a better understanding of the scope of art and a passion for it.
The teachers also developed a renewed sense of confidence to try things out - a feeling of 'oh yes, we can do this'. They noticed the change in themselves and their pupils:
"You think a child cannot sit still; you give them clay and boy can they sit still - I was amazed" (Year 1 class teacher, Maidenhall)
The practitioner had her first experience of working with parents which was very successful:
"The parents enjoyed the process and they were learning as well, helping the children..." (Kiran Patel, Practitioner, Maidenhall)
Results
The enquiry question was answered and connections between home and school were made both by working alongside parents in the classroom and by exciting pupils about art - an excitement they shared at home. They loved having parents come in and spoke animatedly about what art activities they had done with them at home since the start of the project.
