Meet the SEN Schools Sharing their Arts Achievements!

This week is National Inclusion Week and what better way to celebrate than sharing some of the fantastic work SEN and Alternative Provision (AP) schools in the South West have been doing. Sharing the successes of SEN and AP students, as well as the challenges they have come across, is important to ensure all students feel seen and celebrated. When SEN and AP schools share what they have been doing to support and engage their students, it can inspire other settings and offer fresh insight to help us progress towards a more inclusive education system.

In Cornwall, Nine Maidens AP Academy have been working alongside two of the country’s leading street artists to create urban art work for their Art and Design GCSE. As part of their course, students were introduced to the work of street artists Yuvi and Binty Bint. Art teacher Tina said “Some of our pupils can lack self confidence in expressing themselves artistically, often feeling that the art they have been exposed to before has not been relevant to them. Looking at Yuvi’s work and finding faces they knew opened a world of creativity to them, which they felt they could be part of and engage in.”

Inspired by these street artists, the students created their own work, which was very positively received by Yuvi and Binty Bint. The response from the artists left the students feeling elated, with one saying “I can’t believe she replied to us.” Their work was then displayed at the St Ives Society of Artists gallery.

In Dorset, SEN school Westfield Arts College regularly share updates on the achievements of their pupils on their Facebook page. Students and their families get to see their artwork online and the positive reaction it receives.

Sharing the successes of these students not only builds their confidence but can also give inspiration to more settings on how to develop their educational offer to become more inclusive for all.

Would you like to share what your setting has been up for National Inclusion Week? Tag us on Twitter @realideasorg and we could share your achievements!