Rastaala and Dunkirk

Derbyshire

Children and staff from both schools have recently spent a really amazing week working together to explore their ideas around community, peace, creativity and conflict resolution.  The schools are jointly investigating and researching how best to develop pupil voice.

The children were placed in a situation where collaboration was key - they didn't know each other, didn't speak the same languages and they were all together in an environment which was new and different for them all. 

The camp took place at Lockerbrook Farm in the Dark Peak area of north Derbyshire, set high on the hills above Ladybower Reservoir, nestling amongst acres of moorland, woodland and wild rugged landscape.  This was a very different landscape for both schools and we took many walks to explore the area - and the weather was really changeable, giving us all four seasons within a really short time-frame.   This provided opportunities for the children to be challenged physically and emotionally; building both resilience and stamina as well as building bonds with each other.

When we weren't outside exploring we were inside the studio space at Lockerbrook creating a theatre piece together which was inspired by the story "The Music of the Maple" by Tahmina  Anam from the book "Why Willows Weep" (published by The Woodland Trust).   Miss Parmjit Sagoo, drama and yoga practitioner facilitated the development of the theatre piece using a range of very physical drama techniques and yoga.  This powerful tale looks at the themes of power, greed, boundaries, barriers, segregation and peace-making through creativity and friendship.

The story was re-enacted using highly visual physical theatre, devised by the children - and this has been filmed to be edited into a final piece which will tell both the story and tales of our explorations at Lockerbrook.  The film will document the journey the pupils took together and show their increased confidence, team work and explorations of the themes covered.

Music was woven into all aspects of the week - led by the Finnish staff - including a very moving composition about peace which was created by everyone together as part of their explorations of the story.

Have a look at the films or click on each of the photographs below to find out a bit more about our adventures at Lockerbrook.