LEO Academy Trust pupils get creative with Big Arts Week

Sutton-based LEO Academy Trust has launched its annual ‘LEO Big Arts Week’ which encourages pupils to get stuck into an exciting range of music, dance, art, drama and creative writing activities, in a celebration of arts and culture.

LEO Academy Trust, which serves over 3,500 pupils across six primary schools in the borough, started the initiative to engage pupils with the many different forms of art and inspire them to have fun expressing themselves.

The Big Arts Week forms a key part of the Trust’s mission, which aims to prepare pupils with lifelong skills and help them develop their independence, confidence and character through creativity, performance and sport.

This year’s LEO Big Arts Week will focus on the theme of the environment. There will be a range of imagery, books, music and dance-based activities and workshops throughout the week to provide hands-on creative learning opportunities, whilst engaging pupils with sustainability and ways to look after the planet. This will include:

  • ‘Junk’ percussion workshop with Donald O’Neill, teaching children how to build and play their own percussion instruments from recycled materials.
  • Dance workshop with Lily Webb, where pupils will learn a fun dance routine to ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’, delivered via a virtual session for children to access at home or in school.
  • Arts and crafts session with local artist, Doug Shaw, where pupils will create their own piece of nature-themed artwork inspired by the local area, re-using everyday materials.
  • Poetry activities and a competition with children’s poet and illustrator, Mikey O’Crikey

After what has been a particularly challenging 18 months for pupils coping with the upheaval and disruption of Covid-19, providing enriching opportunities for children to have fun and be creative this summer is especially important.

Each Big Arts Week activity is designed to inspire pupils and encourage them to try a new skill, supporting their social and emotional development as we transition out of lockdown.

Dominique Briggs, director of partnerships and extended schools at LEO Academy Trust, said: “We are thrilled to launch this year’s LEO Big Arts Week and give pupils a dedicated space to engage with arts and culture, something which many of us have missed out on during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Creative learning is a vital part of a child’s education, yet lockdowns and school closures have made it more challenging for children to take part in the creative activities they love such as attending music lessons, going to the theatre and dancing with friends.

“We are delighted to be running a range of exciting workshops this week delivered by expert local artists, which will help children develop their confidence, creativity, collaboration and problem-solving skills, but above all have fun with learning. It has been a joy to see the brilliant work that pupils have done so far and how much they are enjoying taking part in the music, arts and creative writing activities.”

For more information please visit: http://www.leoacademytrust.co.uk/659/events-calendar/event/42/leo-big-arts-week

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