Orchards Primary School engage in Children & the Arts programme

Orchards Primary School is situated in an estate in Wisbech, a one hour drive north of Cambridge. Most of the pupils are of white British descent and come from the estate around the school, an area of high social deprivation. Nearly one third of the pupils, many of whom are the children of recent immigrants from Eastern Europe, are at the early stages of learning English. The percentage of children eligible for free school meals is almost twice the national average and at 40%, so is the proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Orchards Primary school was under special measures in 2006/7 and has worked hard since then to improve its performance. It came out of special measures in May last year with its most recent Ofsted report commenting, “Following the previous inspection, staff responded positively and worked together well to bring about the necessary improvements… Standards are rising and the school has a good capacity to continue to improve.”

The Fitzwilliam Museum has been working with Orchards Primary School for nearly two years. Initially the school staff viewed the project with the Fitzwilliam as an unnecessary addition to their already heavy workloads and did not fully engage with it. This had a knock on effect on the pupils’ experience of the project. However as the impact and potential of the project become clearer, and as the overall morale of the staff has improved, so has the school’s enjoyment of and engagement with the Fitzwilliam.

“It is so important for the pupils to have first hand experiences. These are children who rarely leave the estate, let alone the town. Our work with the Fitzwilliam really broadens their horizons; it gives them a sense of the opportunities beyond their everyday surroundings and context.” Teacher

There is now a real commitment from the staff involved, together with an enthusiasm to use the ideas and inspiration picked up during the Fitzwilliam project right across the curriculum. This is demonstrated beautifully by a Year Six PHSE project which will use the book making skills learnt in one of the Fitzwilliam workshops. The pupils will make books with secret compartments and then use these as a catalyst for looking at the fears they have about their transition to secondary school and discussing how best to tackle them. It can be a very worrying and stressful time for many children and the project is an interesting and involving way of encouraging the pupils to talk about any worries they might have.

"The ideas we have gained are so valuable right across the curriculum." Teacher

As for the Fitzwilliam Museum, they too have benefited from the programme. Their education team has been provided with an insight into what the teachers deal with on a day to day basis, which in turn has been very useful for their own development. The needs of the school also meant that the education team worked hard with the teachers to ensure they design sessions at the Museum which reflect both the curriculum work and the interests of the children. As a result of these efforts, the project is now becoming embedded in the curriculum.

This team work, along with the long term benefits, are only possible because of the sustained relationship between the school and the museum. And the sustained relationship is only possible because of the funding from The Prince’s Foundation for Children & the Arts. Orchards School is looking forward to continuing the relationship next year and already has ideas about areas that they would like to work on together.

“It’s so special! They are proud as punch” Teacher
 

Posted 14th July 2008