Ark Ayrton Primary Academy in Southsea hosts its first Christmas ‘Light Walk’
Ark Ayrton Primary Academy in Southsea, Portsmouth, hosted its first ever Christmas ‘Light Walk’ this week.
Teachers and pupils worked together to create light up installations including lighthouses – the Ayrton school symbol – and a giant Christmas tree made of stars.
Other highlights included a working London Eye, an Eiffel Tower made from recycled bottles and a recreation of Portsmouth’s iconic Spinnaker Tower.
Each classroom was set up to represent a different country. Pupils engaged in cross-curricular activities using Geography, Design and Technology and Art to light up the classrooms with a range of different creations, supported by workshops with Portsmouth-based Splodge Designs.
Year 7 students from Ark Charter Academy also contributed to the event with geometric domes they created with local artist Flora Duley.
More than 500 families attended the ‘Light Walk’ and enjoyed hot chocolate in a magically-lit school hall, while Funk Format hosted an interactive laser dance show in the dance studio.
Ark Ayrton Primary Academy Principal Sophie Bennett-Acres said, “This brilliant project embodied the Ayrton principles of aim high, work hard, shine bright and play fair.
“It was a lovely opportunity for the Ayrton community to come together – and for our children to shine so brightly.
“The atmosphere was incredibly joyful. Parents and children took photos, learned about different countries and celebrated the magic of the season with their friends and teachers.”