School quad transformed in arts project (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Outdoor learning space created at the Dales School, Morton-on-Swale

2:38pm Monday 18th March 2013 in News By Mark Foster

CREATIVE designers have used their artistic skills to piece together a vibrant outdoor learning space for a North Yorkshire school.

Five giant wall mosaics have been created for students at the Dales School, Morton-on-Swale, near Northallerton.

Art makers at Harrogate-based Henshaws College, who provide vocational training to people with disabilities, have turned a previously unusable quad area into a colourful outdoor classroom.

The school’s community liaison officer, Beverley Lawrence, said: “Because many of our students have special needs and need to stay in school we decided to try and improve an area in our own environment that had become slightly neglected.

“Over the years we have had a number of additions to the school building creating an enclosed quad area which despite our best efforts was a bit of an unusable space and hard to maintain.”

Thanks to a £3,000 grant from school funds, representatives from Henshaws visited the school to meet with the students to find out their ideas for the area.

“The art makers at Henshaws came up with a design and the idea for the mosaic panels which have really transformed the quad,” said Beverley.

“We now have a fantastic outdoor space which looks great and can be used as an additional learning place and as well as somewhere to enjoy picnics and outdoor fun in the summer.”