Portway Arts Leaders

The Royal Albert Hall at Portway. Planned and created collaboratively by Art Ambassadors and students from different year groups, working alongside artist Julia Clarke.

Our Arts Ambassadors are KS2 pupils who are keen to promote more artistic and creative opportunities for pupils during art and DT lessons.

They actively advocate for enhanced opportunities during art, Design and Technology lessons, workshops, and projects, fostering the development of their own artistic skills. These Ambassadors facilitate the setup of art supplies for other students and engage in various art focused activities throughout the year. This includes crafting 3D models for Portway's displays or special events like Christmas celebrations and performances.

They actively contribute to art initiatives and occasionally take the initiative to independently plan and guide projects, like organising Christmas bauble decorations in the playground.

Portway Primary School proudly secured the prestigious Gold ArtsMark accreditation in 2023! This accomplishment is a testament to the dedication and artistic journeys of the entire Portway community over the span of two years. The achievement involved active participation from Art Ambassadors, students, staff, parents, and even our school governors!

“From Nursery to Year 6, the arts are an integral part of the rich curriculum Portway offers, and children are supported to stretch themselves to create beautiful, exciting work and share it with the school community. Visual arts have been a particular strength in recent years, evidenced by the beautiful displays throughout the school some of which have been co-created by pupils with professional artists. Displays take as their subjects the stories and performing arts to which Portway introduces pupils, ensuring that children can connect their own enjoyment of making and sharing art with a wide range of authentic cultural and creative opportunities.”

(J. Rhodes, Chair Governor)

Teachers learn new art skills and techniques.

At Portway, Arts Ambassadors and fellow students engage in diverse art projects, collaborating with professional artists to acquire new skills. One notable project centered around the theme of 'Identity,' encouraging participants to articulate aspects of their homes, habits, memories, and cherished relationships.

Students expressed their unique identities through sketches of meaningful objects, capturing Polaroid photographs of themselves in the process. The culmination of their creative efforts resulted in the exhibition 'My Identity- Your Identity,' hosted at PPS. As a recognition of their artistic endeavors, students were presented with Arts Awards certificates.

The enchanting Fairy Tale Mural was brought to life through collaborative efforts with our students, who collaborated with the artist Tom Berry over three days. Together, they selected characters, determined the setting, and even chose the vibrant colors that now grace this spectacular artwork. Several Art Ambassadors played a vital role in the project, providing valuable support to younger students as they learned new skills and techniques.

Volunteers consistently step forward to coordinate and assist in art workshops at Portway. During a festive event, Arts Ambassadors took the initiative to organize Christmas Bauble painting and decorated the library's Christmas tree. This activity allowed each student to infuse a piece of themselves into their artwork.

In collaboration with artist Natalie Ryde, who shared her experience in painting skills and techniques, Arts Ambassadors played a crucial role in guiding younger students to acquire new painting skills.

Art Ambassadors provide invaluable support during art sessions in class. Trained to use various art mediums, they assist their peers in practical activities. Through their exemplary demonstration of following steps and creating artwork, Art Ambassadors serve as positive role models that greatly support the art teacher in the classroom.

Art Ambassadors actively engage in art competitions and inspire fellow students to participate as well. Recently, we visited The Project Surgery, where our students' artwork decorated the windows. Additionally, the West Ham Lane Health Centre has dedicated a window for the PPS Art exhibition, with Art Ambassadors taking the lead in organizing and overseeing the exhibition.