‘We created our perfect teacher’
Pupils illustrate ‘superpowers’ on tiles as part of classroom recruitment campaign
SCHOOL pupils are leading a campaign to attract more people into teaching by creating their ideal teacher out of clay.
Blackfriars Academy, in Newcastle, and Seabridge Primary were asked to come up with teacher ‘superpowers’ and then illustrate their ideas through clay tiles.
Now the best tiles are being turned into a magic box, which will feature in a series of videos made for Keele and North Staffordshire Teacher Education (KNSTE).
The organisation – formed in partnership with Keele University - is one of the main teacher training providers across the area.
Jude Stubbs, project creative, said: “It’s so good to get the children working with clay.
“It’s also a great medium for teaching and working collectively. We are creating a clay box which, when we lift the lid, will have the word ‘teach’ appear inside it.”
Each side of the box will be illustrated with the tiles produced by the pupils. They have already dreamt up lots of ideas for superpowers.
These include sculpting caterpillars to show how teachers help children to grow. One student has also produced a figure with eyes in the back of its head.
As well as using clay to explore what makes a good teacher, pupils from Seabridge Primary will be producing a jingle for their school radio station.
Eleven-year-old Evelyne Howard, of Seabridge, has been working on a teapot design to show how school staff have a ‘cup of knowledge’. “They also have to have determination,” she said.
Fellow Seabridge Primary pupils Imogen Clayton and Ankita Circas are among the others involved. Eleven-yearold Imogen, of Clayton, said: “Teachers need to be able to listen to children.”
Some trainee teachers from KNSTE have been supporting the clay sessions. For Blackfriars, a special school for secondary age students, the artwork has also helped young people to express themselves.
Kainan Johnson, an 11-yearold Blackfriars pupil, said: “My favourite subject has got to be art. I struggle with some other things.” His clay tile features lots of question marks. “That’s because teachers ask a lot of questions,” he said.
Rosie Grocott has used stars for part of her tile. The 12-year-old, from Talke, said: “I’m designing wings to go on it as well. They are like angels.
“I think teachers are magical, brilliant, talented, tremendous and amazing. They will always be remembered for their education.”
Jen Thomas, who also attends Blackfriars, will never forget the warm welcome she received from a teacher when she joined the school. It has now inspired her idea for a teacher superpower.
The 12-year-old, from Newcastle, said: “I felt a bit nervous at first coming here. But my teacher made me feel so excited. She showed me my peg and the dinner hall. She showed me my classroom. She really helped me.”
The pupils are delighted to promote teaching as a career. Eleven-year-old Blackfriars student Millie Emery, from Blurton, said: “If somebody is thinking about becoming a teacher, I would tell them they are going to improve people’s lives.”
Ruth Argyle, deputy director of KNSTE, said: “We came up with some of the ideas, but the children have had the best ones.”
The work will feature in the new promotional videos, which will also explore the support available to early career teachers.