The winning combination of art and sport
Why Get Set?
Priory Special School (Suffolk, East of England) wanted its students to gain understanding of the outside world, and was particularly excited by the possibility of being able to offer them the chance of attending an Olympic or Paralympic event.
Realising that the Games and Values would be a strong theme for activities across the curriculum, there was a particular interest in art and sport and the relationship between them.
The Journey So Far
A huge mosaic created by students is now on display at Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre and a grand opening with the local Mayor was a tremendous experience for students. Inspiration for the mosaic came from the Values, the athletes and stories of the Greek gods. Further projects combining art and sport include batik sports bags with the Olympic flame as part of the design and the creation of 3D moving figures.
Each department is involving the Olympic theme in schemes of work and a whole school Olympic themed day involved each subject running a workshop that used Olympic ideals as inspiration.
Priory Special School’s own sports day, always a special occasion anyway, is to be turned into a mini Olympics.
Following a successful visit by two Rwandan head teachers, who spoke about their hopes for the Olympics and about schools in their country, there are plans to organise a teacher exchange. As the Rwandan athletics team are using Bury St Edmunds as a base there is great excitement at the prospect of setting up an event with the athletes.
Positive Values
Activities based on the Olympic and Paralympic Games and Values have created opportunities for cultural work both in school and the community, and have driven links with Rwanda which look set to continue through the planned teacher exchange. Students have experienced cross curricular days with Olympic themes and a wall has been dedicated to events and Values of the Games. Teachers have devised new schemes of work which are encouraging students to push themselves that little bit further!
And the highlights for students?
Students were particularly inspired when Paralympic basketball player Caroline Maclean came into school and they are excited by the prospect of such a huge event taking place in their country.
- “Live sport in our country the best in the world”
- “It’s a memorable British event and we will be there”
- “Makes you want to do some more sport”
- “Bringing together lots of countries.”
Towards 2012
In the lead up to the Games further plans for Priory Special School include introducing students to Boccia, sending a team to the Hertfordshire games, creating a mural for the school and meeting Rwandan athletes training in Bury St Edmunds.
With ‘visual’ being one of its most powerful learning tools at this special needs school, an ultimate measure of success would be for students to go to an Olympic or Paralympic site to see the venue and an event for real.
