Portsmouth students transform school space with eye-catching mural

Year 10 students from a Portsmouth school recently left a lasting mark after they revitalised a key area with a vibrant, new mural. 

The students, from The Portsmouth Academy, on St Marys Road, Fratton, worked in partnership with local artists ‘WinnieMay’ and ‘HappyFatty’ to create the bold artwork which sits at the entrance to the school’s Student Services department. 

As members of the school’s ‘Art Club’, the students used their voice to design the striking mural which reflects the strong, inclusive culture at the school and the importance of student wellbeing. With a calming, blue background and a flowing style, the mural serves a space where many pass through the day and require access to such an important part of the school. 

The project gave the opportunity for students to take ownership of this important space, while developing valuable skills working as a team. One of the students, Warda, said: “Painting the mural and meeting new people was amazing; I hope I can do it again”. 

Fellow students were equally enthusiastic about creating the mural as Ade commented on how they loved sharing the experience with their friends, while Orela described it as a ‘fun and beautiful experience’. 

Rebecca Preston, Curriculum Lead for Art at The Portsmouth Academy, praised the students for their creativity and teamwork throughout the project. 

“Leading on for the students has been a real privilege and they deserve all the credit for transforming the entrance of our Student Services department. 

“I see first-hand every day the imagination our students have for creating inspiring pieces of art and it’s wonderful for them to now be able to show their hard work off to their peers. 

“I’d also like to extend a special thanks to our supporting artists, without whom this project would simply have not been possible. The students benefited so much from your expertise and guidance and have now built transferable skills they’ll use for life”. 

The mural doesn’t just brighten up a previously blank space, it creates a sense of belonging and unity for the school’s community, something which has strengthened greatly in recent years, as Headteacher, Sarah Dedman, discussed: 

“I am incredibly proud of what our students have created. This mural is about far more than transforming a space; it is about student voice, creativity and belonging.  

"At The Portsmouth Academy, we want our young people to know that this is their school and that their ideas matter. Seeing them work together with such confidence and pride is exactly what we mean when we talk about transforming life chances". 

As part of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, the school is committed to helping its young people develop confidence, creativity and leadership skills by being their best self. 

The Portsmouth Academy will soon be opening its doors to prospective families at their Open Event on Thursday 1st October, from 6pm-8pm. Visitors can tour the school, try some free food and discover the range of opportunities available.

Creating the mural was made possible thanks to The Portsmouth Academy's partnership with Fratton Together and Under One Banner, which ensured they would receive funding from the Portsmouth Creative Education Partnership. This partnership was also possible thanks to Arts Council England.