“What I enjoyed the most about the project is that I can walk past the mural and say that was my idea for that section. The type of skills I learnt were to have patience and resilience. I think that overall the final design looks amazing. I can’t believe how far it has taken us to create a masterpiece”. Year 10 Pupil at Crofton Academy.

Overview

The objectives of the project were to:  Introduce students to careers in the creative industries, particularly public art; Engage students in the practical and conceptual process of mural creation;  Foster creativity, collaboration, and confidence through real-world art application; Create a permanent, student-designed mural that enhances the school environment; Inspire future cohorts to explore creative pathways.

What happened? An initial assembly was held for Year 9 students introducing the concept of public art and creative careers. This was followed by a series  of workshops delivered during year 10 GCSE art lessons over two weeks to design and implement mural concepts.  An event was held on Tuesday 13th May 2025 to celebrate the completion of the mural.

Participation and Engagement

• Assembly Attendance: 207 Year 9 students attended the careers themed assembly.
• Workshop Participants: 36 Year 10 students actively involved in the design and production of the mural.
• Staff Involvement: Art department and SLT provided logistical and educational support.
• Celebration Event Attendance: 63 parents & carers, pupils and staff attended.

Key Activities

• Introductory Assembly led by Beam and Emmeline North, which focused on creative career pathways and the role of public art and aimed to inspire students and provide real-world context.
• Workshop 1 – Introduction to mural design. Students explored collage techniques and design concepts. Shared examples of Emmeline North’s previous public art projects.
• Workshop 2  – Grid-based mural design implementation. Creation of motif stencils and vinyl decals. Drafting and preparing the “RELEASE YOUR CREATIVITY” slogan.
• Celebration Event hosted for parents, carers, staff, and governors. Unveiled the mural and celebrated student contributions. Reinforced community pride and student achievement.

Outcomes and Impact

• Creative Learning: Students learned about public art processes, design methods, and materials.
• Skill Development: Practical experience with stencilling, scaling designs, and working collaboratively.
• Community Engagement: Strong attendance at the celebration event showed school-wide support.
• Legacy: The mural serves as a source of inspiration and a potential resource for future lessons and talks on creative careers.

“This has been a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to express themselves and leave a lasting mark on their school. Through this project, they not only developed new artistic skills but also gained valuable insights into careers within the creative industries. The partnership with Beam was exceptionally successful.

Thanks to their introduction to Emmeline North, we were able to bring our creative vision to life. Pupils eagerly looked forward to each session and were thrilled to work alongside a professional artist. Emmeline’s nurturing approach encouraged our pupils to share their ideas and fully engage in the creative process.

It has been wonderful to see their talents celebrated, and the final result is something that will be enjoyed by future generations of pupils. We’re incredibly grateful to Learn Wakefield District for funding this project and making such an enriching experience possible”. Sarah Rostron – Associate Senior Leader at Crofton Academy.

“It was a pleasure to work with the pupils and help translate their artwork into the first mural for Crofton Academy. As the mural illustrates, everyone in the group brought their own unique identity and approach to the project, from the initial interpretation of the brief, the motifs they created, to the positioning of the last few elements and the lettering.

I’m so pleased that the Academy had the opportunity to produce work at a larger scale like this, giving young people the opportunity to demonstrate their skills as individuals but also work together to produce a visual legacy like this, capturing their fun loving creative spirit in what can be a challenging time in their lives. I hope it inspires a creative future for all involved”. Emmeline North – Professional Artist.

“I really enjoyed being able to work with a professional artist as well as my peers. I loved sharing ideas and being a part of a bigger project for my school. In the design, my leaves and flower were included. I learnt to brainstorm new ideas and think in a new way – such as thinking about colour schemes, new designs and what represents Crofton. I think that the final design and finished mural is beautiful as it captures all of our ideas collectively in a way that represents Crofton. I also liked the way it wrapped around the wall. To improve the sessions, I would want them to be longer”. Year 10 Pupil at Crofton Academy.