Primary school assembly – How special art assemblies keep our school creative
We use special assemblies as an exciting way to enhance our art provision, says Adele Darlington…
My pupils love interactive art assemblies.
They leave them inspired, fired up and ready to take on the day. The special assemblies are such an exciting way to enhance the art provision we deliver that they’ve now become a regular feature on our school calendar.
The assemblies provide an opportunity for pupils to collectively appreciate art, learn and rehearse new skills and reflect on artistic achievements. As art lead at my school, I lead the assemblies. They fit perfectly with my passion for giving children high-quality art experiences.
When I first suggested to staff back in the autumn of 2019 that we have a go at delivering art assemblies they thought I was crackers. The thought of every pupil entering the hall armed with a sketchbook and pen sent shivers down many spines.
How would we manage it? How would we maintain our high expectations of behaviour? Were the children independent enough? So many questions buzzed around the staffroom.
Staff were envisaging a chaotic scene: children standing up, asking for rubbers, requesting help, needing the toilet – you get the picture. However, luckily for our pupils we have a very forward-thinking headteacher who is always keen to give things a go. Sarah trusted my vision and enthusiasm and we agreed to give it a go.
I must admit I was more than a little anxious on the morning of the first assembly, but once the children began to file into the hall, armed with beaming grins and eager eyes, all my worries washed away. We decided to keep it simple to start with.
The only equipment each pupil required was a sketchbook and pencil. All I needed was access to a visualiser, a computer and projector. An adult joined each class to support and we were ready to go.
The focus for our first adventure was portraiture. We talked about the proportions and features of our faces and observed closely before embarking on the drawing experience. I modelled using the visualiser and step by step we built up our own self-portraits.
The staff were blown away with the children’s focus, resilience and willingness to have a go. The sight of them all sitting, drawing, engrossed and absorbed in their creations was truly heartwarming. The outcomes were something else too.
Even the very youngest pupils produced self-portraits that amazed us all, demonstrating the importance and effectiveness of incorporating modelling into a varied art provision. This shared experience was so successful we knew we had to provide more of the same.
Subsequent assemblies have focused on sketching skills, observational drawing, guest speakers and artist studies. While different in content, one thing they all have in common are the excited fist bumps and whispered cheers as the children enter the hall, eager for the half hour ahead.
Following the assemblies, pupils from across the school want to talk about art, share their artwork with staff and peers and discuss their creations. This initiative has really helped embed a creative culture in our school where art is valued and celebrated.
Since the pandemic hit we haven’t been able to gather collectively in the same room, but have instead delivered these assemblies virtually via Microsoft Teams. We’ve managed to maintain the spark and excitement this way, still using a visualiser to model techniques to enable us to continue to draw and create together.
Our most recent assembly saw us blessed with the online presence of a very special guest: writer and illustrator Tom Percival. He joined our children to share his experiences of creating digital art. What a buzz he created, inspiring our pupils to get creative on tablets and iPads in school and at home.
Now when we talk about art assemblies in staff meetings, the questions have turned from ones of apprehension and doubt to eagerness and excitement. When is the next one? What will the focus be? How can we continue the enthusiasm and journey in class?
If you’re tempted to run an art assembly in your school, my advice would be to go for it, and I know our staff and pupils would wholeheartedly agree. They really are a fabulous, valuable, shared experience.
Adele Darlington is an EYFS teacher and art lead at Leighfield Primary in Uppingham. She also works as an art SLE across the Discovery Trust. Follow Adele on Twitter at @mrs_darl. Browse ideas for Children’s Art Week and school assemblies.
