The Park Community School, South Street, Newport, Barnstaple   EX32 9AX

Tel: 01271 - 373131

email - parksch@rmplc.co.uk

Experience

• High Close School - Dr. Barnados School in Wokingham Berks. - 6 Months
• The Park Community School, Head of Art Department - Four Years

Incentive to incorporate I.T. into the Art Department and encourage cultural links.

Hobbies: Scuba diving, travelling, cycling, swimming, painting and ceramics, gym, walking, surfing.

Impressions of Cape Town

Following a lifetime of experiences in a culturally flourishing Cape Town, I am now back in Barnstaple with my feet firmly back on the ground. Less than 24 hours after touchdown at Heathrow airport with the fond memories of African song still hanging in my mind I am faced with a year 11 art class ready and waiting for action. This is where the hard work begins in earnest.

I set myself an action packed agenda for the 10 days we had in Cape Town. I needed to experience everything that was going on from poetry readings, visiting artist workshops and township schools, galleries and participating in dance, music and singing workshops. (I hasten to add at this point that Table Mountain was conquered and a dip in the sea at Cape Point with the penguins is a must for all intrepid explorers!)

I am an Art teacher at The Park Community School which is now linked up with a school called St. Joseph's College in Cape Town thanks to the Crossings Project. It is my intention that we will exchange ideas and project work in an artistic capacity to enhance the art curriculum in one anothers schools. In time, our links should extend to other departments within our schools thus providing a greater multicultural awareness amongst our pupils.

On a more localised level, I am setting up a project which will involve several of our feeder primary schools in a large scale bridging project. I have collected many teaching resources during my trip which will provide a resource bank which will travel on a half termly basis to each school. Inside this box there will be a selection of African artefacts (including textiles, beadwork, postcards and books), musical instruments, tapes and CD's which will be accompanied by a scheme of work. Teachers can select an appropriate project which will have all of the information required at their fingertips. Once those children arrive at The Park Community School they will develop their skills further in an African Art based project which will bring together all of the skills acquired during the primary school project.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Park Academic Council for their financial contribution to this project.