Bath and Wiltshire pupils collaborate to create meadow mural

The Bath and Wiltshire Parent recently reported on us working together with ‘No Added Sugar’ to create a beautiful meadow mural at The Bridge, a shared space from the Palladian Academy Trust for development sessions, meetings and more for all of their schools. The Trust wanted to ensure that their pupils truly are at the heart of everything they do.

Community artists, Toni and Gordon, worked over the space of a week with 200 pupils. Each day they enabled pupils and staff to work side by side to collaborative and develop layers of flowers and grasses

The schools taking part were –

• Combe Down Church of England Primary
• Oldfield Park Infant School
• Oldfield Park Junior School
• Fitzmaurice Primary School
• Ralph Allen School (secondary)
• St Martin’s Garden Primary School
• St Philips Church of England Primary School
• Westwood With Iford Primary School
• Widcombe Infant School
• Widcombe Church of England Junior School
• Winsley Primary School

Collaborative working is an integral part of teaching pupils the life skills of teamwork, listening, and critical thinking, and encapsulated exactly how our family of schools work together on a daily basis.

“A huge thank you to Toni and Gordon for all they did,” said Donna Tandy, CEO at Palladian.” It blew me away when I saw the finished mural. I know the pupils (and adults!) all really enjoyed the opportunity to paint on the ‘actual walls’! What an amazing legacy piece we now have for everyone to enjoy.

“Arts-based subjects help pupils engage with skills they can only access through creative mediums. It encourages self-expression and builds their confidence and self-identity. Creativity also has links with improved wellbeing and health – many students use art as a way to express any emotions that they may be feeling or relieve them from the variety of pressures gained in other environments. By creating this space together, the pupils at the Palladian Academy Trust have made their mark on this central hub and added a joyous splash of colour for many to enjoy for years to come.”

Toni Dickinson, No Added Sugar artist, added, “We had such a wonderful week with you all. Staff at The Bridge were very kind to us during our stay. The children from all schools were so well behaved, they showed top listening skills and were keen to take part.”