School is where the art is

As many schools up and down the country are downsizing the arts in their curriculum, art and creative subjects are given high prominence at Avonbourne Trust.

And its celebration event was an opportunity to not only showcase the arts but also embrace creative thinking in all subjects taught at Avonbourne and Harewood colleges as well as Avonbourne Sixth Form.

The night culminated in a special awards ceremony sponsored by Arts University Bournemouth.

Debbie Godfrey-Phaure, CEO of Avonbourne Trust, said, “Our curriculum is designed to enrich our students’ lives and inspire them to be creative thinkers.

“We, unlike some schools and academies, have always offered full access to the creative arts and it is a core part of our offering.

“Bournemouth is a key player in the creative industries and we want to make sure our students are a part of that.

“Working with AUB we are raising the profile of these essential skills and offering our young people a clear pathway into the creative industry, which is worth £71 billion every year to the UK economy.”

The event started with an interactive performance of dance, music and drama.

On display were art and textiles exhibitions, dancing robots, painting to music, a rugby kit designed by Harewood PE students, 3D castles made for history, island models for geography and a space suit for science.

Parents and students were then invited to celebrate their creative successes in an awards’ ceremony.

And more than 100 students, who have all shown ‘Creativity and divergent thinking demonstrated in all areas of the curriculum’, received awards on the night.

Speakers from AUB gave Avonbourne students an insight into where art and creativity can take them into the world of higher education and employment.

Deano Pickering, senior officer for Widening Participation at AUB, said, “It was an honour to attend this event, which showed the close collaboration and positive working relationship between both our organisations.

“It was wonderful to celebrate the achievements of creative learning across all curricular areas of the Trust.

“More than 200 parents attended, which was a remarkable achievement, and the students showcased some fantastic work and performed so professionally on the night.”