Meadows pupils inspired by battlefield visit

STUDENTS from a special school created a variety of artwork to commemorate the centenary of the poppy.

Students and teachers from The Meadows Special School, Leek, have designed displays following a visit by two students and teachers to the World War One battlefields as part of a national commemoration to honour the sacrifice of the armed forces.

They were also inspired by the recent ‘Weeping Window’ display at Middleport Pottery.

The students have studied verse from war poets during English lessons, as well as art, design and technology. They have interpreted the battlefield landscape of the Somme and studied trench art.

Key stage four class have built a piece of art which depicts the ‘shot at dawn soldiers,’ using imagery from the National Memorial Arboretum.

Sixth-form students created a figure of a private soldier with a tin helmet, backpack and a gun.

Headteacher Joan Wright said: “The Meadows school has undertaken this project to honour those who paid the ultimate price and made such a personal sacrifice more than 100 years ago and we honour their memory.

“I am extremely proud of the work that staff and students have produced and very interested to see the breadth of their interpretation.

“They have used different skills and understood the significance of this centenary year.

“The whole school has been involved, with one of the teaching assistants crocheting 200 poppies, which students and staff wore at a special assembly last Friday.

“Mr and Mrs Bate of the Royal British Legion visited the display and gave their seal of approval. Mr and Mrs Bate continue to support the school ensuring “their name liveth for evermore”.

Student Ethan Harrison, aged 13, said: “We went to Middleport Pottery, and my class decided to make a model of the Middleport Pottery.

“We made a bottle kiln using cocktail sticks, papier-mache and red tissue which we scrunched up to make poppies.

“We all enjoyed making the displays and I enjoyed showing them to the visitors.”