Empowering Students Through Eco Textiles and Community Collaboration

This project empowered DCHS students to explore sustainable Textiles through the Eco Project in partnership with The Alnwick Garden. It expanded creative learning opportunities for both secondary and primary pupils, with students leading workshops, exhibiting their work, and engaging with the wider community.

Timeline

Ongoing project since 2024, with key developments in the 2024-2025 academic year

Project Partners

Organisations

The Alnwick Garden Education Team

Schools Involved

Duchess’s Community High School (DCHS)
Swansfield Park Primary School
Seahouses Primary School
Shilbottle Primary School

Key Goals

Develop sustainable textiles knowledge through creative practice
Build leadership skills and confidence in older students
Connect primary and secondary pupils through shared creative experiences
Strengthen school partnerships with arts organisations
Provide public exhibition opportunities for student work

The Inspiration

The Eco Project was developed as a Textiles initiative that introduces students to natural dyeing and sustainable practices.

Students learned to use plant-based dyes to create meaningful artwork. Older pupils took on leadership roles, supporting a weekly Textiles Club and leading workshops at local primary schools.

The project expanded to include tailored schemes of work for both GCSE classes and primary cohorts. Collaboration with The Alnwick Garden enabled the project to culminate in a public exhibition and laid the foundation for future events, such as a proposed “Primary Planting Day.”

The Impact

Outcomes

Community Collaboration

Over 20 students from DCHS participated in workshops and exhibitions and three local primary schools engaged in the extended project, working with a key community organisation to produce a successful final exhibition.

Developing Leadership Skills

The year 12 students from DCHS used this opportunity to develop leadership skills as part of The Gold Arts Award. This Level 3 qualification is young person-led and encourages creativity and independent learning.

Improving Creativity Standards in School

Work on this project led to The Duchess’ Community High School being awarded a Platinum Artsmark Award, accredited by Arts Council England. The Artsmark Award is the only creative quality standard for schools and education settings in England, where schools are recognised for their exceptional commitment to creativity.

Developing Professional Skills and Confidence

Working with subject specific teachers and Y12 students strengthened the confidence of primary teachers in delivering Textiles content in their individual settings

Impact

“The children found the activity really engaging, especially all the experiments (wet felting,
flower press and cabbage!).

It was really creative and it gave them a great introduction to art and textiles. They are now looking forward to this when they come to High School.”

Shilbottle Primary School

‘Exciting and experimental’ – Archie/Henry

‘Inspirational, interesting and fun’ – Ellie

‘A nice and fun experiment’ – Cameron

‘It was productive and it got you thinking’ – Lydia

‘Wonderful and amazing’ – Rebecca

Primary School pupils

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