Ellacombe Academy children start mosaic heritage project

Children at Ellacombe Academy in Torquay have begun work on an art project aimed at creating a more positive representation of their community’s past.

The primary school recently received a £10,000 grant from Historic England as part of a heritage initiative celebrating working-class histories.

In the 19th century, Ellacombe was built to house local workers as wealthy Victorians moved into seaside villas.

While many of these homes remain, Historic England believes the area's historical significance and the role of the working class in enabling Torquay to flourish have been overlooked. This has contributed to Ellacombe’s association with social and economic deprivation.

Alison Helm, the school’s headteacher, said: “As a school, we applied for this Historic England grant to provide an opportunity for the children of Ellacombe and the local community to celebrate the shared history of the area. This project will enable us all to have a sense of pride in our history and create a lasting artistic legacy for future generations to enjoy.”

Devon artist Monica Shanta is leading the project, which involves creating mosaic artwork on the school's exterior walls.

Each year group is designing a mosaic based on one of the school’s core values: love, hope, trust, perseverance, and stewardship.

Last week, Year 2 students created paper mosaics centred on love, designing hearts surrounded by drawings that reflect their view of the feeling. Their homework was to research the history of Ellacombe and create booklets, which they shared in class.

Their families, some of whom attended the school years ago, have also gotten involved by sharing their stories and bringing in old photos from their school days.

Monica will use these designs as inspiration for the final mosaic, set for completion in June. The children will help construct the artwork on boards, which will later be put up on the school’s walls.

Monica said: “It is wonderful to be working on such an inspiring project that will be a celebration of Ellacombe, by and for the people who live here. As an artist, I feel honoured to be given the opportunity to help the children of Ellacombe School contribute so positively and creatively to their community. We have only just begun, but their ideas so far are all so vibrant….”