Local school pupils remember First World War with Creative Awards at Goldsmiths

School pupils from across south London have remembered the First World War by entering into a competition at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Over 60 students entered the competition open to schools in Lewisham, Greenwich, Southwark and Lambeth.  They created works of art to mark the 100th anniversary of the Great War.

The pupils created paintings, drawings, sculpture, the written word and drama to help remember the war – and to express what it means to them now.

All the works by the students from Key Stages 2, 3 and 4 were entered into The Goldsmiths World War One Creative Awards.

Sponsored by Lewisham Council, the competition winners were awarded £150, while second and third-placed received £75 and £25.

Judges came from a range of disciplines at Goldsmiths reflecting the extent to which the First World War is an interdisciplinary subject at the university.

Departments taking part included History, Art, Educational Studies, English and Comparative Literature, and Theatre and Performance.

Dr Rosie Kennedy, Lecturer in the Department of History, said: “We have been really impressed with the range and quality of the children's responses - making the judging process very difficult!

“Hopefully the competition will not only have inspired these children to think about the themes of war and commemoration but will also have given them a personal link to Goldsmiths and the work that we do here.

“For staff too the project has brought benefits. It has provided the chance to meet and talk about the First World War with others working outside our own disciplines - a very welcome opportunity.”

The winners were announced at an awards ceremony held last month at Goldsmiths’ New Cross campus.

Winning schools on the night included Deptford Green in Lewisham - which saw five of its six entries scoop prizes.

Deptford Green English teacher Vikki Prescott said: “This has been a brilliant project and has allowed our pupils to think about the bigger picture.

“They all loved working on this and looking at the First World War in such a creative way which brought history to life.

“It made them realise that this is still a huge issue – that although it took place 100 years ago it still matters today.”

The awards were the brainchild of Brian Sharp, now retired after a long career in publishing. He wanted a creative way for schoolchildren to commemorate the Great War.

Mr Sharp contacted Professor Richard Grayson from the Department of History at Goldsmiths before Lewisham Council signed up as partners to the awards.

The Department of History has a number of First World War specialists but many other academics across Goldsmiths have also made the conflict part of their research.

Dr Kennedy said: “Research on the First World War is going on all across Goldsmiths.

“As Goldsmiths is such a centre of creativity it seemed very fitting for us to invite young people to respond to the commemoration of the First World War creatively.”

Warden of Goldsmiths Patrick Loughrey said: "Goldsmiths is a muster-point for so much study into the First World War and we are delighted to be able to share this with the local community. 

"From speaking to them I know these students have really embraced that scholarship - as well as the importance of commemoration."