A group of children from the London Borough of Newham spent two days in Cambridge last week as part of a creative programme for gifted and talented pupils. Newham has a highly diverse population with pupils in its schools speaking 250 different languages.

The 30 children, all from Year 5, came from seven primary schools in the borough. They were taking part in the fourth year of an initiative coordinated by the Newham Gifted and Talented Team. Each year has a different creative theme: this year’s is “Archways and Windows”.

In Cambridge, the group took part in activities at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Corpus Christi College and Kettle’s Yard. They then travelled on to Oxford. “The idea was to introduce them two of the oldest and finest centres of education and culture in the world,” said Andrew Mutter, Arts Adviser for Newham.

“We wanted to show these young children, from a disadvantaged East End background, what they can aspire to and achieve if they are prepared to work hard and aim high. The trip encourages them to look closely at works of art, building and the environment, learning through drawing.”

At the Fitzwilliam Museum, Education Officer Sarah Villis led a session on ‘Reading Paintings’ looking at paintings that show natural framing. At Corpus Christi, the pupils did pencil drawings in the chapel and hall, using view-finders to frame sections of archways and windows. At Kettle’s Yard they did drawings in the more intimate setting of the house.

Daniella Adu-Poku, 10, (pictured above using a view-finder), a pupil at Grange Primary School in Plaistow, said she enjoyed hearing the organ being played while she drew in Corpus Christi chapel. She also liked spotting the images of pelicans (the symbol of the college) around the college.

Some of the finest drawings were done by Ahona Roy, 10, a pupil at Selwyn Primary School also in Plaistow, who came to the UK from Bangladesh less than a year ago. “Her teachers at Selwyn were really keen that she should come on the trip as she shows such talent,” said Mr Mutter.

Dr Melanie Taylor, Admissions Tutor at Corpus Christi, said she was keen to increase the college’s work with younger pupils. “I believe it’s important to welcome children into an academic environment at an early stage so that they get a glimpse of what the future can hold for them,” she said. “We were really impressed by how the Newham children concentrated on their work to produce some lovely drawings.”

Sketches made on the Cambridge and Oxford trip will form the basis on large-scale paintings which the children will create later this month.
 

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