Twenty Year 8 and 9 students together with Mrs Symm and Mrs Johnson from James Calvert Spence College (JCSC), have enjoyed working on a lottery funded project in conjunction with Newcastle University and the National Trust (Wallington site) with the theme “Species: Past, Present and Future.”
The project invited students to reflect on climate change and biodiversity in their local area with a focus on species in Northumberland. Students were exposed to these ideas in a variety of formats; from handling items from Newcastle University’s Special Collections and taking part in poetry lectures and workshops, to spending time immersed in nature at Wallington and working with academics from the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences.
Hayley Symm, Director of English at James Calvert Spence College, Amble (JCSC) said: “We were delighted to be asked to work on this project; it has been an excellent opportunity for students from JCSC to engage with their local environment and heritage. The children have impressed us with their newfound print making skills and beautiful poetry, inspired by nature and animals. They have shown a keen interest in learning about prospective careers including National Trust rangers, printmakers, poets, and researchers. We are so proud of their work on this project and their concluding exhibition at Wallington Hall. We would like to say a big thank you to Newcastle University and the National Trust for hosting us and for giving our students this experience.”
JCSC year 8 student, Dexter said: “Discovering what Northumberland has to offer, in terms of nature and wildlife and what we can do to preserve it, has been particularly interesting.
“I really enjoyed the mini lectures at Newcastle University and the visit to their library. This gave us a taster of university life and courses available to us if we decide to study at degree level.”
JCSC year 9 student Sadie added: “Working with the academics from the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences has increased my interest and awareness of careers and learning available in biodiversity.
“I really enjoyed learning skills in printmaking and I am proud of my final design, which I look forward to seeing at the exhibition.”
The exhibition of students’ work at Wallington runs for the duration of the summer, see more about Wallington Hall here.
