House and Garden

A New Direction

Three creative practitioners (Michelle Reader, Simon Bird and Iluska Farkas) worked with staff and pupils at Creative Partnerships Change School, Brindishe Primary to explore outdoor learning. From developing responsibility skills by raising chickens, to exploring the use of visual arts to build shelters, pupils, staff and parents worked alongside each other to extend their use of the school grounds.

Years 2 & 3 took part in an indoor/outdoor process of building temporary outdoor structures inspired by the winter garden beds using found and recycled materials. Pupils developed manual and design skills, by using tools, sourcing and collecting materials to design and creating miniature and large scale structures for future use.

Year 5 pupils undertook a feasibility study and prepared the school for the introduction of ten hens onsite, including all the legal and health implications. Pupils looked at all of the practical aspects of chicken care before introducing 10 chickens into a bespoke coop.

Parents contributed to the project by offering recycled materials, attending out of hours working sessions, participating in excursions to the local park, and supporting holiday chicken care.

The project was concluded by sharing the final artwork with the whole school and wider community, who were invited to experience the stages of the project and meet the new school pets.

Project objectives

• To develop outdoor learning in the school through visual art and primary life-skills (gardens and livestock);
• To develop resources and methods for engaging staff and pupils with the outdoors to further explore sustainability, economic well being, personalised learning and foster a sense of community;
• To develop core responsibility for year 5 pupils, to support them in taking up school leadership roles in Year 6.