Year 5 students from Raeside Junior School spent the summer term exploring Frankley, mapping the landscape and their place within it.

Kites were built and flown in different locations to demonstrate where the school is in relationship to the surrounding landscape.

Pupils made smaller kites in pairs and bigger kites in groups. They painted designs on their kites. They also learnt about suitable weather conditions and the principles of flight.

The school playground provided space for the pupils to wind their kite strings and practise their flying techniques.

The first flying day took place in the school playing field. For many, the launch was a huge challenge; but with some perseverance and a lot of running the pupils were able to watch their kites sail up into the air, and experience the work necessary to keep a kite aloft.

On the second flying day pupils were split into two groups. Half went to the school field and the other half to the peak of Quarry Hill.

Those in the school field could see the kites being flown on the hill, whilst those on the hill were able to see the school field and Birmingham City centre in the opposite direction. Pupils mapped their environment, including their position, the school's and Frankley's position within the wider landscape.

The pupils at Quarry Hill drew what they could see, and those at the school field drew invented landscapes that lay beyond what they could see.

At the end of the day pupils set up their work in the school hall. The drawings were arranged in a circle to create a 360° panorama of Frankley and beyond, with the school and pupils at the centre of their environment.

Artists: Mark Anderson, Helen Ingham, Jake Oldershaw, Graeme Rose
Creative Agents: Ana Rutter and Graeme Rose