Students from Northumberland College have helped create a series of striking murals across Kirkley Hall Campus to celebrate their local heritage and raise awareness of environmental sustainability.
The Foundation Learning students, who have a range of special educational needs and disabilities, worked with local artist Andy Morley – aka ‘The Creative Ginger’ – on the large-scale art projects based within the campus’ new SEND Building.
Involved in the process from concept, design, creation and then realisation, they chose two themes: ‘Save the Oceans’ featuring sea life such a killer whales, dolphins, penguins and sea lions; and ‘Living in Northumberland’ with paintings of Hadrian’s Wall, Alnwick Castle, the coast and Bamburgh Castle among other historical and cultural locations.
The displays will be used to inspire learning, reinforce the curriculum, stimulate conversations and create a vibrant and fun atmosphere.
Vice Principal, Lee Lister, said: “Our students being at the forefront of a collaborative creative and meaningful project has had a huge impact on their learning and it’s vitally important we capitalise on these opportunities outside of the main curriculum.
“It has been a great project which has developed our students’ planning, communication, teamwork, creative and employability skills as well as igniting their passions, wider interests and talents. They also have a better understanding and knowledge of their community, heritage and environmental issues which has really impressed me.
“We are so proud of what they have created. It will benefit our wider student community by making them think about the world around them, demonstrate achievements of people like them through history, and inspire them to learn and develop their knowledge.”
After being invited to work with Kirkley Hall’s residential students to provide evening activities, Andy was invited to collaborate with the Foundation Learning team on a larger project.
Lee added: “We were very impressed with Andy; not just his talent and work, but with how he engaged our students. The sessions were very inclusive, and he used the students’ designs and worked brilliantly with them to develop their creativity.
“We are looking forward to creating similar murals with Andy at our Ashington Campus in the near future.”
We are the largest further education provider in Northumberland with campuses throughout the county.
Our student transport scheme is available for eligible students to make getting to and from college as easy as possible.
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