YEAR five pupils at Gee Cross Holy Trinity Primary School, Hyde, used road safety as the theme for their Arts Award Discover.
The ‘staying safe’ message is especially poignant given where Holy Trinity is situated.
They worked with professional artist Sam to produce a giant piece of artwork that focused on four strands of road safety – stop, look, listen and think
And representatives from Tameside Cultural Services and Tameside’s community safety team were on hand for the presentation of certificates for the awards by Lesley Bardsley, cultural services’ outdoor arts and events officer.
Acting deputy headteacher Katrina Cole admitted road safety is a major issue at Holy Trinity.
She explained: “We are situated on Higham Lane which is one way and narrow while parking is a real issue on Mottram Road.
“We have done a lot of work with the police and local PCSOs in the mornings and afternoons with drivers blocking driveways and parking on chevrons which is a hazard to our children.
“We also did ticketing for one week when children placed parking tickets on cars which were badly parked.”
Headteacher Craig Beaty added: “It’s so important to help shape children and young people’s understanding and attitudes towards road safety. This gives them the best chance of keeping safe while they are young and as they get older.
“At Gee Cross Holy Trinity Primary School we have been doing that. As part of our learning we have discussed the topic of road safety and how to stay safe outside of school.
“As a way to communicate this important message, we have worked with Tameside Cultural Services and Arts Award to produce a wonderful piece of art, which helps get the message across. I am very proud of how our children have worked on this project.”
Arts Award Discover, which is operated by Trinity College, London, is an introductory award designed for ages five and above, but open to children and young people aged up to 25.
To achieve an Arts Award Discover, children and young people collect evidence in an individual arts log of their experiences of taking part in arts activities, researching artists or craftspeople and their work and sharing their arts discoveries
Tameside Council’s Cultural Services mission along with Arts Award and Arts Council England is to support young people who want to deepen their engagement with the arts, build creative and leadership skills, and to achieve a national qualification.
The Arts Award is facilitated through the support of cultural services and Curious Minds – who support and works to improve young people’s lives by increasing opportunities for active participation in arts, culture and creative learning – through the Arts Council England.
For more information, visit www.tameside.gov.uk/culture