Surrey pupils take top honours in Art Festival

Two pupils from the Aldro School in Godalming, Surrey, were last week declared the overall joint winners in the Haileybury Prep and Primary Schools Festival of Art.

The works by James Gifford and William Freeman were chosen from over 600 entries, more than double the amount submitted last year. Schools from afar a field as Twickenham, Northwood and Reading took part.

The theme for the 2004 competition was Noah’s Ark, chosen to tie in with choral work by Benjamin Britten which is a musical theme for Haileybury this term.

Says the Head of Art at Haileybury, John Pearson-Phillips: "This is one of the only competitions of its type in the UK and the idea behind it is to stimulate the creativity of younger artists and to expose them to the prestige of having their work recognised at a senior level.

"The Noah’s Ark theme completely captivated all the entrants, with some teachers reporting that it was all their pupils talked about in class for weeks!" he adds.

More than 130 parents, pupils and teachers attended the prize-giving last Thursday where each school that entered had a first and second prize winner, as well as overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd winners in each age categories of Years 3 and 4; Years 5 and 6; and Years 7 and 8.

All winners received art materials and were treated to a performance by members of Haileybury’s award-winning Chamber Choir, who sang excerpts from Joseph Horovitz’s Captain Noah and His Floating Zoo.

"The quality of the work was outstanding, and the variety of media the children used was inspiring," said Mr Pearson-Phillips.

"Next year will be the fourth year of the competition although this is the first time we’ve had a theme. The idea was such a success that it will certainly be repeated."

Prize winners included:

Year 3-4
1st – Elizabeth Murley (St Mary’s, Hampstead)
2nd – Robert Howells (St John’s, Northwood)
3rd – Chloe Allanson (St Michael’s, Welwyn Green)

Year 5-6
1st – Madaleine Hallwood (Heathmount)
2nd – George Vare/Fred Willans (Elstree School)
3rd – Martha Parsons (Trevor Robert’s School)

Year 7-8
1st – James Gifford (Aldro School, Godalming)
2nd – William Freeman (Aldro School, Godalming)
3rd – Jodie Harrison (Heathmount)