Walsall Children's Services

Walsall Secondary Schools East Collaborative Art Activity

This innovative and exciting art project built upon and re-enforced the visual impact of larger 3D sculpture through group work and by using materials that are re-cycled, raised the profile of Green issues and carbon footprint awareness.

Some of Walsall’s most talented young artists - year 9 gifted and talented students who have also chosen art within their options - from four of the Boroughs secondary schools worked together for two days to produce more than 20 wigwams each measuring six feet high.

In order to raise the awareness of the visual arts and celebrate its diverse talent of students and staff, the two day art activity took place at St Francis Of Assisi Catholic Technology College involving schools within the East Collaborative - St Francis Of Assisi CTC, Streetly School, Aldridge School and Shire Oak School in the North Collaborative.

Some of the schools including St Francis of Assisi CTC plan to use the work produced as the starting point for their first project when students begin their GCSEs this September in year 10, which supports work towards an early GCSE and raises the standards and expectations towards Key Stage 4.

Students also benefited from the opportunity for greater pastoral exchange with students from other schools, and created networking links between art departments whereas before there were none. The project has and will continue to give opportunities for heads of art and art teachers to share good practice and expertise which will impact upon teaching and learning within their own schools.

Working in groups within the art department for the two days, students gained experience working with 3D and on a much larger scale. 3D is often difficult to teach students in secondary schools due to levels of confidence/knowledge and storage issues. The Wigwam project built upon and re-enforced the visual impact of larger 3D sculpture.

Students collected small found objects to use to decorate the surface of the Wigwams which they created from bamboo and cellophane which is heated up to create a tight rigid platform in which to work from.

In preparation for the activity, Year 12 had already completed their Wigwams as part of their Applied A-Level course. In order to full-fill the vocational aspects to their project they mentored and passed skills on to the groups of year 9 students during the activity, giving them valuable experience mimicking the role of an Artist In Residence. They used their own work and working practices in which to guide and support the other students.

Ian Preston, Head of Art at St Francis of Assisi CTC said:

‘’I am delighted that schools within the collaborative embraced and supported this project with such enthusiasm, as it has taught students artistic possibilities using re-cycled materials. I’m hoping it will demonstrate and raise the awareness to the visual arts through larger sculpture, and set a trend for more schools to collaborate through project work in the future. Students often work to much smaller scales in schools, and this project definitely stretched their ability and gave them the experience to build upon their teamwork skills through greater pastoral exchange. The finished wigwams are a wonder to look at – truly fantastic!’