BDCEP Projects: Bringing together schools and cultural providers to deliver high quality learning opportunities for all in the Braintree District.
School Projects
A series of school projects operating throughout the year…
Care Home Project 4 - A 10 week after-school project
This project has been running for four years and runs each year with up to 10 schools. It enables schools to link with their local Care Home when the schools share artwork with their local Care Home.
The art is created by a group of pupils in a 10 week after-school club.
In the school year 2024/5 we had 9 schools participating in the project. Great Bradford Infants had a great time creating and sharing their artwork.
We are currently signing up schools for the 2025/6 project so please email us if you would like to know more.
Current participating schools:
- Bocking Primary, Church Street, Bocking
- St Andrew’s Primary, Great Yeldham
- Holy Trinity Primary, Halstead
- Great Bradford Infants School, Braintree
- De Vere Primary School, Castle Hedingham
- Lyons Hall Primary, Braintree
- John Bunyan Primary School, Braintree
Action Art Play
Creative Health and Well Being
We commissioned 2day art and activity workshops in The Edith Borthwick School, Braintree and Southview School, Witham.
https://www.emotionallywellcommunities.com
Past Projects
Projects run directly by cultural partners for the benefit of schools in Braintree District.
Learner to Learner Project
Totems of Kindness
The students created a selection of totem poles from recycled wood as part of the project, working collaboratively and exploring what kindness means to them. They discussed the things they felt were important within their school communities, which were then represented through the artwork.
The project was also inspired by our visit to Marks Hall, where the students explored the sculpture trail and considered how art can be incorporated into a calm, safe outdoor space. This really helped them to think about how their own artwork could contribute positively to an outdoor environment and create a welcoming space for others.
What made the project particularly special was that the students were able to have their own voices heard as part of the work. Alongside the visual artwork, there were lots of voice recordings where the students could share their thoughts and ideas. This element of the project was supported by Suffolk Libraries, which was a fantastic addition and gave the students another way to communicate their messages.
It was lovely to see the students working together, sharing ideas and thinking about how these could be represented through both the artwork and their own words. The project gave them a really positive opportunity to collaborate and use art to communicate ideas about kindness and the things that matter to them.
The grand opening took place in the new Alec Hunter Accident student support sensory garden.
The students really enjoyed the project, and we were very pleased with the work they produced. Thank you so much for your incredible support throughout the project. Each school now has a selection of the poles in their own outdoor spaces, which is wonderful to see.
Charlotte Riches
Alec Hunter Academy
July 2026
Magic Lantern
Magic Lantern is an award winning educational charity that has been turning classrooms into pop-up art galleries since 1994.
We were pleased to offer their workshops to one of our schools.
Community Rail Partnership
We have worked with Community Rail Network to provide art work from several of our schools, to be displayed at Railway Stations within Braintree District.
Art Work from a student at New Rickstones Academy, celebrating 200 years of rail passenger travel.
John Ray Trust
John Ray Trust kindly donated a grant to the 10 schools who attended our 2025 Eco Event. This will enable each school to enhance their planned projects that will support the environment.
ootiboo - A Creative Learning Company
A Creative Learning Company that offers a range of projects that are free for schools.
Our projects are designed to be fun, inclusive and encourage out of the box thinking. We have projects for schools, activities for families at home and craft competitions for any age.
We were pleased to learn that ootiboo have delivered Little Experts: Why Money Matters workshops to the following schools;
- de Vere Primary School
- Templars Academy
- Hatfield Peverel, St Andrew’s Junior School
- Great Bradfords Infant & Nursery School
- Lyons Hall Primary School
- Great Bardfield Primary School
- St Francis Catholic Primary School
- John Bunyan Primary School
- Wethersfield Primary School
Photo’s courtesy of ootiboo
Indian Dance after school Project
Indian dance is a colourful, creative and fun activity for any child. Children learn about Indian rhythms, steps as well as hand & eye movements. They get to choreograph their own moves, build their confidence and increase their flexibility.
The classes is led by Susanna who is an experienced dance teacher and has performed in over a hundred schools in Essex and Suffolk. The 4 week course will run for 1 hour at the end of the school day. www.indian-dance.co.uk
Spring Term 2025 (dates arranged to suit schools and Susanna).
We have funded after school Indian Dance workshops in the following schools:
Richard de Clare Primary
Great Bradford Infants School and Nursery
Great Bradford Junior School
Witham Oak Academy
Beckers Green Primary School
John Bunyan Primary School
Inspiring Creative Futures with Crampsie Linge Casting!
We’ve been busy sparking imaginations and opening doors to the world of TV, film, and gaming!
At Beckers Green Primary, all KS2 pupils (around 75 students) stepped into the spotlight. Using clips from Strictly Come Dancing, EastEnders, and The One Show, they explored the incredible range of careers behind the camera. Students tried their hand at roles like Camera Operator and Hair & Make-up Artist, then got creative by designing their own quiz and game show formats.
Wayne from Crampsie Linge Casting also highlighted exciting local opportunities—Elstree and Borehamwood studios, just an hour away, where shows like Strictly and films like Paddington are made. Our message was clear: think big! Creative careers are open to everyone, no matter your background.
At Alec Hunter Academy, Year 9 students (around 45 in total) took things to the next level. With drama as their starting point, they explored pathways from acting to business and legal roles in film, TV, and gaming. Students pitched their own game show ideas and learned about industry hubs nearby—Elstree for TV and film, and Cambridge for gaming.
The sessions ended with lively Q&As, covering everything from the best subjects to study to how to find out more about creative careers. Wayne signposted students to ScreenSkills, a fantastic resource for anyone looking to break into the industry.
Delivered by Crampsie Linge Casting, these sessions proved that the next generation of media professionals is already brimming with ideas!
Teacher Feedback
“The students, selected by their drama teacher, formed a very mixed audience, yet they remained engaged throughout the session. They actively answered questions, offered suggestions and opinions, and were especially eager to get up and perform!
Thank you to both you and Wayne for funding and delivering such a fantastic opportunity for our young people. It was truly appreciated.”
✅ Want to inspire your students?
Get in touch with us at braintreeschools@gmail.com to book a creative careers workshop for your school!
Essex Beekeepers' Association
We were delighted to have a presentation from Essex Beekeepers Association at our 2025 Eco Event. We learned all about bees and were able to watch the bees at work.
https://ebka.org/learn-to-keep-bees/local-groups/
Wild Arts Opera
We are delighted that for the third year running Wild Arts will be working with 4 of our schools.
St Francis, Braintree
John Bunyan Primary
Bocking Street Primary
Lyons Hall
‘Wild Arts are working with between 28 and 90 children from each school- the teachers have decided which children and which year group. We are inviting them to a special schools’ performance which will be a condensed, interactive version of Donizetti’s ‘The Elixir of Love’. To fit everyone in, we’ll have 2 performances at Layer Marney Tower on 15th July, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Should be lots of fun!’
