Showcase

Shenington C.E. Primary School, Shenington, Nr Banbury
Infant and Junior, 80 pupils 2005

The School

Shenington Primary School is a small village school which has no specialist art teaching. It relocated to a new site in 2004 and its surroundings and play area felt bare. The school were keen to have a totem pole to give a sense of place

The brief

The whole school would be involved in the design
The children would learn about religions, myths and the values associated with totem poles
The children would use a variety of new media to achieve the end goal

The work

Stories and literacy lessons were based around the project. The children made dream catchers, balsa wood plaques and clay sculptures as well as carving the totem pole. The artist, Phoebe Shaft, encouraged the children in their designs to show how our native animals could be relevant to the stories and ideas. "Could I be a carver as a girl?" was one of the comments overheard, as the children obviously enjoyed the use of mallets and chisels.

The outcome

"We will think more in terms of whole school projects, perhaps more ambitious than before. The children learnt that everyone has ability, an opinion, a design idea. There was something for everyone to excel in."
Teacher Year 4