Sport and art inspire gifted children at Valley school

Reporter: Catherine Smyth
Date online: 14 September 2009

A STRIKING piece of artwork to celebrate the 2012 London Olympics will hopefully encourage pupils at Rossendale’s sports college to go for gold. 

The mural adorns the wall of a basketball court at Fearns Community Sports College, Stacksteads, and was created by 30 children attending the Gifted and Talented Summer School. 

Megan Cartridge, 13, said: “It was really good fun but the best bit was art; for me that was the highlight. I also enjoyed fencing and going down to Burrs, in Bury, where we got to build rafts, go abseiling and kayaking.
“Only two of us fell in but later we all jumped in the water and it was brilliant fun.” 

Luke Allcock, 13, enjoyed the music aspect of the summer school and the pupils even wrote their own rapping anthem for Fearns which is going to be professionally recorded and played in school. 

The torch bearer on the mural was created by 13-year-old Courtney Warren who said she loved the artwork sessions. 

Gifted and talented co-ordinator Shirin Patel and art specialism co-ordinator Charlotte Walsh ran the course. 

Shirin said: “It was all on an Olympic theme and we learned about the origin, the history and values and how it unites cultures through sport. We also had a visit from a paralympic swimmer Natalie Jones who brought in her swimming medals. They also did a challenge where they had to experience what it is like to be blind by wearing a blindfold. 

“The summer school was a tremendous success and saw a lot of good team building work. It involves pupils from Fearns from years seven to 11 and also 15 pupils from primary year six who started at the school this month. 

“It capped off a successful year for Fearns when our GCSE results were the best ever with 57 per cent of pupils gaining five or more GCSE grades A* to C.”