Creative pupils get hands on with 30 foot mural

PUPILS at an infants school got creative to give the building's grounds a vibrant new look – with a 30-foot mural celebrating Rotherham’s status as the world’s first Children’s Capital of Culture.

High Greave Infant School – recently rated Early Years Outstanding by Ofsted – have worked alongside renowned artist and illustrator Imogen Joyce to help design and create the giant artwork, which now welcomes visitors at the school entrance, with the mural officially unveiled at a special celebration event.

MEGA MURAL: Pupils involved in the project with artist Imogen Joyce (right) and deputy head teacher Rachel Taylor - pic by Kerrie Beddows

placeholder image — MEGA MURAL: Pupils involved in the project with artist Imogen Joyce (right) and deputy head teacher Rachel Taylor - pic by Kerrie Beddows

Headteacher Jack Huckstepp said: “The children were really engaged from the very beginning, working with Imogen to share their ideas about what they wanted to see on the school walls.

“We decided to celebrate our local green spaces, and, after nature trails for inspiration and creative workshops in stencilling, printing and colour, the mural was ready just in time for the new term.

“We’re all absolutely thrilled with the result.”

The project was commissioned by Children’s Capital of Culture, which is currently in its festival year and aims to give young people more opportunities to experience the arts, develop creativity, and be involved in making decisions and have a voice in shaping their town’s future.

Artist Imogen Joyce added: “It’s been so rewarding to see how positively the children and staff have responded to the mural.

“I hope it inspires the pupils to bring creativity into their everyday lives.”

High Greave pupils follow in the creative footsteps of Rockingham Junior and Infants School who teamed up with visual artist Angie Hardwick on a CCoC project earlier this year to create a large-scale art installation about saving bees, which was later proudly displayed in the school grounds.

Also this year youngsters at Bramley Sunnyside Junior School gave a tired old art portacabin a new lease of life to brighten up the school grounds, in celebration of Rotherham becoming the world’s first Children’s Capital of Culture.

Working with two local artists – Ruth Dyer and Harriet Lawson – the large-scale art installation saw pupils came up with different ideas for what the piece should be and then vote for the winning design.