Press Releases

The pupils visited the National Wool Museum at the beginning of June, with the travelling costs being subsidised by the Museum Friends, to learn about the woollen industry and took part in a felt making workhop. After their return to school the Ysgol Glan-y-Môr pupils used the knowledge and skills learnt from their visit to the Museum to design a large wall hanging. The design was then needle-felted by the primary and secondary school pupils using specialised equipment provided by the Museum.

 This project has been jointly run by Joanna Thomas, Learning Officer at the National Wool Museum and Susan Quirk, Learning Leader for Vocational Faculty at Ysgol Glan-y-Môr with support from Rhian Prothoroe, Fashion and Textiles Degree Student at University of Wales Trinity St David’s.

 After exhibiting at the National Wool Museum the wall hanging will travel back to the primary schools before returning finally for permanent exhibition at Ysgol Glan-y-Môr.

 Joanna Thomas, Education Officer at the National Wool Museum said: “This opportunity opened up new experiences to the pupils who have gained an understanding of the woollen industry in Wales. The work has contributed to their Working with Others Welsh Baccalaureate Key Skills qualification and it has given pupils an excellent start to their level 2 BTEC Textiles course.

 She added: “The pupils were active in all aspects of the process from collecting ideas for the initial design, designing the wall hanging to creating the group piece of work. To do this they showed strong communication and collaborative skills. The secondary school pupils supported and involved the Primary school children throughout the day-long workshop and the visit to the Museum, helping to pave the way for the younger children’s move to secondary school and giving the older children an opportunity to develop their leadership skills.”

“The excitement, buzz and engagement of pupils in the workshops was infectious – the sessions were intense and pupils showed concentration, determination and pride in their performance. The collaborative nature of the project has meant that the primary schools, Ysgol Glan-y-Môr secondary school, fashion student Rhian Protheroe  (an ex Glan-y-Môr pupil) and the National Wool Museum were able to work together, to develop a partnership which hopefully will continue.”

 Susan Quirk, Learning Leader for Vocational Faculty said: “This has been an excellent project which has opened up opportunities to our pupils in so many ways. They have learnt a lot from working together to design and produce the wall-hanging. The fact that this was a “live brief” and the work is going to be displayed in the museum added an extra motivation for the pupils. The enthusiasm and collaborative way in which the pupils worked was a pleasure to see. Lastly, this project would not have been possible without the Learning Officer, Joanna, and the museum’s involvement, as we would not have been able to afford to buy the specialist equipment.’

 Some of the comments made by the pupils involved in this project include:

“I am so pleased with my work.”

“We have had a FAB day.”

“I think we should be proud of ourselves this is great work.”

“Thank you, we have had two great days, visiting the museum and the workshop.”

“Are we going to do something like this again?”

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For further information please contact the Museum on (029) 2057 3070

EDITOR’S NOTES

This project supported Transforming Children’s Futures, the Museum’s strategy for creating pathways to cultural participation.