Animals Have Personalities!

21st April 2026Betty Ramsay

Today we watched a demo sent especially to us from Nick Mackman, a real life Artist. She taught us that animals have personalities and to be a good artist, we have to look for these before we try to capture their likeness. We took some time looking at photos of animals to see what emotions and characteristics we could see before deciding if we agree with Nick Mackman… we did! We then sketched An animal sculpture and tried to capture their personalities through their expression and posture. Here we are being artists just like Nick Mackman.

Red Nose Day

20th March 2026Nicole Tymon

This week, we have been baking and decorating some cupcakes for Red Nose Day, and while doing this, we had discussions around fundraising and how baking and selling was one of the many ways we could raise money. We used visuals and videos to explain what Comic Relief is, and the children completed tasks based on money and feelings.

Mother’s Day

20th March 2026Nicole Tymon

Last week the children created beautiful Mother’s Day cards using their own handprints to form bright, blooming flowers, each one as unique as the child who made it. They also explored paint blowing, carefully guiding colours across the page to create some unique shapes. As they worked, we spoke about the special people in their lives—mums, grandmothers, and other loved ones. Showing off there progress with writing inside the cards themselves.

Learning from a Tudor Expert

12th March 2026Thomas White

Last week, our UKS2 Crews had a very special visit from an expert artist and Tudor enthusiast. She brought with her a remarkable portrait of King Henry VIII, which had been painted for her by her father. Seeing the portrait up close was a fantastic experience for the children, as it helped bring our Tudor learning to life.

During the session, she shared fascinating information about Hans Holbein the Younger, one of the most famous artists of the Tudor period. Holbein is well known for painting incredibly detailed and realistic portraits of important figures at the court of Henry VIII. His paintings were not just about showing what someone looked like — they were carefully designed to show power, wealth and status.

We looked closely at some of the features that made Holbein’s portraits so distinctive. The children noticed the rich fabrics, detailed jewellery and confident poses used to show the importance of the people being painted. We also discussed how artists used colour, position and symbolism to send a message about the subject.

Our visitor also gave the class some helpful critique and advice about their own Tudor portrait work. She encouraged the children to think carefully about proportion, detail and expression, just as artists like Holbein would have done hundreds of years ago.

The session was a brilliant opportunity to combine history and art, helping the children understand not only what Tudor portraits looked like, but also why they were created in that way. It was a memorable experience and gave everyone lots of inspiration as we continue developing our own Tudor-style portraits.

World Book Day in Crew Ramsay!

5th March 2026Betty Ramsay

We watched a video of Dorothy seeing colour for the first time in Oz and then created some inspired drawings. The children were given autonomy to create whatever they wanted with the theme, ‘the colours of Oz.’ Here they are enjoying some creative literary time!

Cutting, Measuring and Showing Courage in DT

11th December 2025Thomas White

In DT this week, Crew White stepped up to a real challenge: sawing and measuring wood at an angle. It was the kind of task that demanded precision, patience and a steady hand, and our crew absolutely rose to it.

There were moments of frustration, moments where pieces didn’t quite fit, and moments where starting again felt like the only option. But the crew showed real courage, sticking with the process and supporting one another to get it right.

By the end, they not only had neatly cut pieces of wood but also a new appreciation for how skilled carpenters and joiners truly are. It was a brilliant mix of resilience, teamwork and craftsmanship.

Capturing the Tiger Cat (through Art)

11th December 2025Thomas White

This week, Crew White have been exploring the striking patterns and features of the Northern Tiger Cat through Art. After studying photographs and discussing what makes this elusive animal so unique, the children chose either to sketch the whole creature or zoom in on a single feature—most popular were those bold, expressive eyes.

Using oil pastels, our crew has layered colours, blended carefully, and experimented with texture to bring their artwork to life. The results are brilliant: vibrant close-ups full of detail and powerful full-body pieces that really captured the movement and markings of the tiger cat.

The class showed real focus, creativity, and pride in their work. We can’t wait to display these in our expedition products soon.