Sharron Mitchell instigated practical art classes for her year 5 pupils at St George’s Primary School, using funds provided by the Forgotten 40 initiative from INEOS, to equip them with skills for their futures.
Ms Mitchell recruited professional photographer, Rebecca Woods, and artist Stephanie Nile, setting them the brief of treating children as adults.
The result saw children and their parents creating an impressive collection of images.
Headteacher Sharron Mitchell pictured with Henry Cator, the High Steward of Great Yarmouth (Image: Submitted)
Ms Mitchell said: “I felt as though I had gold in my hands.
“It was beyond all my expectations.”
The children’s works were exhibited at The Priory 1101 and impressed High Steward of Great Yarmouth, Henry Cator, who said: “These are absolutely stunning.
“It is remarkable that primary schoolchildren have achieved this.”
The artwork will be on display in Great Yarmouth this month (Image: Submitted)
The project has been so successful that the school board has given Ms Mitchell permission to integrate photography into the year 5 curriculum.
Alongside the children, parents also seized the opportunity to uncover their artistic potential.
After-school art lessons were offered to parents like Martin Riley, who relished the chance to reignite his penchant for sketching.
He said: “I used to do a lot of sketching when I was young because I was good at it.
Parents were invited to take park in classes as well as pupils (Image: Submitted)
“But I didn’t pursue art at all. Now I am drawing again at home.
“It’s made a real difference to the way I look at life.
“I notice more things in nature.
“Things that I just didn’t see before.”
The artworks from pupils and parents are set to go on public display at several venues in Great Yarmouth until the end of July.
INEOS launched its Forgotten 40 initiative in 2021 to help headteachers help their most deprived pupils enjoy a well-rounded education that children from more affluent homes, take for granted.
