School children’s artwork demonstrates values on campus
20 July 2023
Artwork by local school children themed around values such as kindness, tolerance and respect will be showcased around the University of Reading’s Whiteknights campus this summer.
The values banner trail was borne out of a project led by Sarah Phillips, Headteacher of Loddon Primary School. She runs a Values-based Education network for Wokingham schools, which encourages school children to demonstrate and promote core human values such as: kindness, respect, tolerance, understanding, peace, resilience and happiness.
The University funded the artwork trail, which features on banners around campus, after being approached by staff member Hannah Milway, who is also the Chair of Governors at Loddon Primary School.
Children from seven Wokingham primary schools were invited to submit their artwork, with 10 entries selected for the final banner trail. The schools involved include: Loddon Primary School; Gorse Ride Infant and Junior Schools; Hawkedon Primary School; Hillside Primary School; Aldryngton Primary School; The Colleton Primary School; and Farley Hill Primary School.
Launch event
An event to launch the trail was hosted on 12 July, with headteachers and children from the schools involved in the project invited to complete the trail, meet the University of Reading Vice-Chancellor and visit the Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology. They also enjoyed a picnic in the centre of campus.
Sarah Phillips, Headteacher of Loddon Primary School, said: “Working in collaboration as a group of local schools has allowed us the chance to refocus on the shared human values which positively contribute to what makes our local communities such special places to live and learn. We are proud to be able to showcase the artwork of our pupils. We would like to extend our particular thanks to the University of Reading for their support in sponsoring and hosting the trail.
“If any other local schools are interested in finding out more about Values-based Education approaches, please do get in touch.”
Professor Robert van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: “The artwork created by the school children is fantastic and will make a fun and vibrant addition to campus over the summer period.
“The University is happy to support this project, which will help to instil these important values in children from a young age. We also look forward to families coming to visit our beautiful Whiteknights campus to complete the trail, whilst also exploring the lake, gardens and museums that the University has to offer.”
The trail will run from 25 July to 1 September. A map is available online on the University’s Community page.