Drawing on the East Asian concept of the red thread of fate that binds people together, and taking inspiration from artist Chiharu Shiota, our pupils, staff and members of our local community have created an incredibly emotive art installation that weaves a web of connections between those who have served for their country and people in their community – both in school and in the locality.  

Three local primary schools (Stutton, Holbrook and Oxford House) and three local care homes (St Mary’s, Oak House and Spring Lodge) were invited to create and connect their own labels to go alongside our pupils’ work. Our History Department has also worked with the primary schools involved to help contextualise Remembrance for their young pupils.  

Emulating the labels on the cases and gas masks of evacuees, we provided two luggage labels to each individual involved. On one label the individual was asked to share something about themselves (even if it is just their name). On the other label, the individual was asked to share something about a relative, or family connection, who has been involved in military service for their country.   

The pair of labels were then returned to the Art Department and joined together by a red thread, each thread being intertwined to create a web of history and connections that binds the community together. Pathways and spaces within the intertwined threads have been created for visitors to walk into and through, in order to further connect with the piece.  

During Black History Month 2022, our Art Department have taken the opportunity to celebrate some of the Black heroes and heroines of art and design, throughout history and up to the present day. Some unsung and some well-known, these creatives have led the way in their respective fields,  championing Black culture, history and heritage as they create their work.

The 'Dress a Girl Around the World' project provides clothing and support for children in poverty or in need around the world.  

Working in teams, Year 9 made dresses and shorts for orphans at Mama Jane’s Orphanage in Uganda, in association with Jinja Educational Trust (JET). Photographers are designing fabric, fine artists are hand cutting and printing woodblock patch pockets, and textile students are machining and hand finishing the dresses and shorts.  

Each garment, has hand printed patch pockets and individually designed trim, and was sent with cards and letters to offer hope and support to a child in need.

A mural inspired by the street artist Keith Haring was painted in the Art Department as part of LGBTQ+ History Month.

Pupils were invited to submit their creative ideas as part of a competition to select the final design that would be the centrepiece of an LGBTQ+ exhibition. The designs had to have some of Haring's key features, such as the strong bold flat colours and the simplistic outlines of people and objects.

A flurry of fantastic artwork was submitted and, in the end, elements from several pupils' creations were combined to create the final piece.

Pupils and staff created 1,548 sails, imprinted with the name of every British naval vessel lost in World War 1 and World War 2, along with the number of lives lost on each ship's last voyage – totalling over 44,000 names.

Each sail has its own red 'wave' with a commemorative poppy forming the symbolic 'hull' of the boat and has been tethered to the ground at the memorial located at the front of the school. Viewed from above, the display forms the shape of a poppy and the lines of white sails are reminiscent of the white rows of headstones in military cemeteries.

The sail installation, entitled 'A Sea of Souls', is made up of individual sails between 20-60cm in size, and covers an area of approximately one acre, creating an undulating effect.

Our Art department created a striking art installation for Remembrance Day entitled 'Shrouded', emulating the artist Christo. The school's art department and Year 10 artists have shrouded the school's avenue of trees, and the balconies and balustrading of the impressive buildings. A visual commemoration for those who lost their lives in the WW1 and WW2, aiming to mirror the respectful shrouding of the fallen, for their final journey.