School's art sets a national example

Work by children at Windmill Hill School, Freshbrook is to become a centrepiece of an exhibition at a new education resource centre to be launched by the world famous Courtauld Institute at Somerset House in London on 5 February.

Throughout the Autumn term Year 6 children studied great paintings by Rubens, Bruegel, Manet, Cezanne and Kandinsky and were taken on three all expenses paid trips to see the works in real life with their teacher Mark Hazzard.

The school had an excellent Ofsted inspection in June 2003 and the inspector's report made particular mention of outstanding standards in art and the quality of display. In 1996 Windmill Hill attracted a great deal of national media when children's work on the Wilton Dyptch was displayed at the National Gallery.

Mr Hazzard said it was a great honour to be asked to work with the Courtauld Institute. "It's been a wonderful experience to be able to look in detail at some of the world's greatest paintings. They are such a powerful visual stimulus which has produced amazing depth of discussion by the children, followed by lively and inspirational writing."

Ten year old Holly Mills said her favourite painting is Manet's Folies des Bergere. "There is so much detail in the picture which you can write about. I kept thinking how amazing it was to see a picture that had been painted of a scene so many years ago. It was brilliant to go to the gallery."

Nathan Woodley was also awestruck by the experience. "There were all these famous pictures in this one room; it was like going back in history. I liked most the Ruben's painting Escape to Egypt which shows Mary and Joseph escaping with the baby Jesus. I really enjoyed writing about it and doing my own drawings."

The children's artwork has been delivered to London where it is being mounted ready for the opening of the education centre. A professional designer has been commissioned to produce a guidebook for visitors to the centre based on the work by Windmill Hill. The children will travel to London on 5 February to act as exhibition guides for VIP guests when the centre is opened.

Headteacher David Messenger said he was delighted the high quality artwork was being recognised again. "The children are tremendously enriched by Mark's work with them and it is a great privilege to be able to have the support of an organisation like the Courtauld Institute."