By Mrs Inkson (Head of Year 6)

This half term, Year 6 have embarked on a creative journey, investigating street art and discovering how artists use this medium to express their values and opinions on societal issues. Throughout this unit, the girls explored how art can be a powerful voice for change, going beyond mere aesthetics.

As part of the project, they designed their own stencilled street art to convey messages about issues they feel strongly about, including racism, environmental concerns, homelessness, food poverty, and the treatment of immigrants. These themes reflect their awareness of the world around them.

The project began with a practical investigation into creating a basic stencil, laying the groundwork for more complex designs. The girls then progressed to making two-layer stencils, starting with a simple background and adding detailed outlines in a second layer. This step-by-step process allowed them to experiment with form and detail while refining their design skills.

In addition to exploring social issues through art, the girls developed valuable design technology skills. They learned to safely use sharp cutting tools, an essential aspect of stencil-making and critically evaluated various materials for their suitability. Through hands-on testing, they discovered how materials such as paper, card, and acetate differ in ease of cutting and final print quality.

The culmination of their learning was the design of multi-layered stencils, where they applied everything they had learned to create meaningful pieces of art that communicate their chosen messages.