The Inspiration

The project marked the beginning of an exciting new partnership between Queen’s Hall Arts and Haydon Bridge School. Developed in collaboration with resident musicians, the programme was co-designed to meet the specific needs of the school and its students.

It was delivered to nine classes across Key Stage 3, offering a high-quality musical experience embedded within the school curriculum. A core objective of the project was to tackle the significant challenge faced by many rural schools: the difficulty of recruiting and retaining specialist arts staff.

By integrating the expertise of a professional cultural organisation directly into the classroom, the partnership not only enhanced the learning experience for students but also helped to build long-term capacity within the school. This initiative laid the groundwork for a sustainable model of arts education in rural settings, demonstrating how schools and cultural partners can work together to deliver impactful, creative learning.

Haydon Bridge School | Queen’s Hall Arts Centre

The Inspiration

The project emerged from an artist call-out for The Living Barracks project, a multi-partner programme to restore and redevelop Berwick Barracks including a cultural development strand of artist-led residencies and commissions which is produced by The Maltings (Berwick) Trust. The proposal from Martha Ellis combined large scale sculptural techniques with visible and inspiring outcome.

The project took place across 5 different schools from Year 4 to Year 12 pupils.  The artist adapted workshop methods to the level of ability some classes worked in teams to make one lantern, older pupils worked on individual pieces and pupils with additional needs focused on sensory elements to build collaborative lanterns.

The Inspiration

As part of the leadership qualification the group were assigned the task to research potential locations for a proposed trip with the Inspire Grant funding. The group initially decided to do a consultation exercise and created a questionnaire which was put to the wider 6th form. A full group consultation session was then held to identify numbers of students who were interested in going on the residential. The leaders also consulted with the wider group to identify 4 possible locations to further research potential Itineraries
and source costings.

Costing and programme examples were sourced from a number of school trip organisers by the group. All costs were way beyond our initial estimate and not viable without a significant student financial contribution. London was the most popular choice but transport, accommodation costs were very
expensive and risk management was a concern from the group and other young people. There was also a general feeling of London being a dangerous and unsafe location.

The leaders then consulted with the wider student group and 4 European destinations were identified: Dublin, Amsterdam Paris and Prague. Dublin flights were very cheap but group accommodation proved very expensive. Paris and Prague were also costed by the group but flight times and accommodation proved to be very expensive and logistically challenging. By far the best value for money option was with DFDS,  the ferry provider, who offered a Newcastle – Amsterdam trip. The students initially liaised with the events team via email to establish if a group deal could be done. The ferry option was felt to be a very safe trip, low risk and most food and costs included. The students secured a great deal within budget and helped to confirm the 45 places required to run the trip. Staff secured the booking and arranged the deposit payment.

Students also developed the itinerary for the day in Amsterdam which was shared with parents. The leadership group were sharing the learning with the wider group as more information became available with support from the staff team.

Students fed back to the staff team that getting people to commit to the trip was very challenging for fear of the unknown, students had lots of questions but young leaders did a great job of planning and liaising with other students to help get the booking secured.

The Inspiration

The project specifically supported students who had been referred for support with their wellbeing and skills, due to a range of different needs and lived experiences (e.g., neurodivergence, social emotional & mental health, challenging family circumstances)

In working toward the Arts Award Explore, students made nature-based collages, imaginary maps, zines, and four soundscapes expressing their experiences of real and fantasy outdoors spaces using exploration of the actual outdoors to record Foley sound effects.

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.”