Article for Impact Projects in Primary Times, October 2003
When Leighswood primary school reopened its doors this year, it was proudly displaying three substantial new works of art, created by a group of pupils during the summer holidays.  As one of 47 “Impact” schools in the West Midlands, 24 youngsters from Leighswood Primary School in Walsall together with teacher, Suzanne Clifton, classroom assistant, Lynda Littlewood and a group of parents took part in a special creative arts summer school, led by the artist Tessa Hills.  The "Impact" summer school is a project based on children, teachers, classroom assistants and professional artists working together to create pieces of art that will have an impact on the school environment.
The week started with the group visiting the education centre at Wyre Forest, near Bewdley.  Wyre Forest, considered to be one of the 3 most important areas of ancient woodland in the country and the Discovery Centre, which achieved "Eco-Centre" status in Autumn 2002, provided the children with a opportunity to work with nature, exploring outside of their usual environment and bringing back a collection of sketches and natural objects to be used in the creative activities that followed.  After their day at the Wyre Forest Education centre the group returned home for an evening of well-earned rest.  With their project now underway the children from Leighswood, together with children at impact schools across the West Midlands, were finding that the work was challenging, worthwhile, rewarding and great fun! For the rest of the week, the group returned to school doing lots of creative activities based primarily on their sketches and natural objects collected on day one.  By day five, the children had finished and could finally step back and admire their works of art!  The final day saw the parents installing the finished works and then together with the children, teaching staff and artist holding a celebration of the week long event and creative outcomes. Three pieces of artwork were produced and are now installed at Leighswood Primary School, serving as a permanent legacy of the week’s creative activities.  A large printed silk banner is now proudly displayed on a wall in the Key Stage 2 Hall.  The blocks created for printing have been joined to form a single panel that is now mounted in the key stage 1 hall.  Last, but not least is a piece which was created by the children using “withy circles“, covered with a fine mesh and housing a collection of natural objects.  This piece has been framed and now hangs in a window in the school. A further celebration of the week’s activities and achievements was planned to coincide, as far as possible, with Family Learning Week.  The impact project has been designed to build the children’s confidence, raise their self-esteem and develop their creative potential.  As far as the children and teaching staff at Leighswood are concerned it exceeded expectations, so much so that they are currently hoping to obtain funding to participate in the Impact summer schools again in summer 2004!  Although primarily aimed at the children, the project also aims to assist professional development for teachers by working with a professional artist.  Headmistress, Jan Taylor, says that “The children and teaching staff enjoyed the week and benefited immensely.  The teaching staff definitely felt that there is a real and substantial benefit to be gained from working alongside a professional artist in this way.” The project stems from a successful pilot DfES funded scheme in 5 schools within Dudley and Walsall during summer 2000.  The 2002 pilot was so successful that the project was given an additional £569,810 of funding from the New Opportunities Fund, allowing it to be rolled out over a 4 year period to 3000 children from 120 primary schools across 14 LEAS and making it the largest summer school of its kind in the country.  The scheme is being led by Lindsay Newton Head of Development in Dudley MBC in partnership with the West Midlands Extended Learning Partnership. If you would like to find out more about Impact or become involved next year please visit the Website at www.impactmag.net. or telephone Alison Haynes Project Director on 01922 723687.
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