Pupils at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Bath have celebrated the joy of creativity by taking part in this year’s Sky Arts Access All Arts Week.
The school, which is part of the Dunstan Catholic Educational Trust, joined primary schools across the UK and Ireland in the nationwide initiative, which encourages children to explore their creativity through a wide range of artist-led activities.
This year’s theme focused on joy, with pupils across St Mary’s producing an impressive collection of artwork inspired by the subject.
Throughout the week, children took part in a variety of creative experiences, exploring different techniques and ideas before seeing their work displayed in a special gallery exhibition at the school.
Parents and carers were invited into St Mary’s to view the exhibition, which showcased artwork from across the school and celebrated the imagination, creativity and artistic skills of pupils of all ages.
At St Mary’s, art plays an important role in the curriculum, giving children opportunities to express themselves while developing their understanding of a wide range of artistic techniques and media, including drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, textiles and sculpture.
Pupils also learn about the work of influential artists and use their creativity to contribute to the wider school and local community through displays, competitions and charity projects.
Sky Arts Access All Arts Week is an annual celebration of creativity in primary schools, encouraging children to explore art, music, poetry, photography, performance and more through engaging, hands-on activities.
Nicole Pecchia, headteacher at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, said, “Sky Arts Week gave our children a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their creativity and express themselves through art. It was fantastic to see every pupil embrace the theme of joy and produce such thoughtful and imaginative work.
“Opening our gallery to parents and carers made the experience even more special, allowing families to celebrate the children’s achievements together and see first-hand the creativity that takes place in our classrooms every day.”
Helen Taylor, CEO of the Dunstan Catholic Educational Trust, added, “Creativity is an essential part of a broad and balanced education. It encourages children to think differently, express themselves with confidence and develop skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.
“It is wonderful to see St Mary’s embracing opportunities such as Sky Arts Week to inspire a love of the arts and celebrate the talents of every child.”
