Coventry: Children learn about good mental health through arts

Year 4 teacher and music leader Cathy Severs and Principal Paul Madia with some of the children

Hundreds of Coventry school children gathered to promote good mental health at the return of an annual event that puts arts at the heart of education.

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School welcomed more than 400 children from eight other Catholic primary schools in the city for Mousike Ensemble, which combines music and learning in a specially-written collaborative performance around a new topic each year.

This year's collaboration had a 'Health Me; Healthy Mind' theme, and saw pupils perform songs, dances, poems and pieces of music based around their mental health and personal safety linked to the national curriculum.

Sacred Heart, which is part of the Romero Catholic Academy, was one of four schools to host the two-day event.

The school was joined by fellow Romero schools St Gregory's, St Patrick's and Good Shepherd Catholic Primary Schools as well as St Anne's, St Augustine's and Christ the King Catholic Primary Schools.

The collaboration was written by Paul Madia, Executive Principal of Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, and Chris Smith, Director of EmbedIT, a Midlands-based company which works with schools to help them embed the latest technology into the classroom.

Paul said: "It was brilliant to welcome children from across Coventry back to sing their hearts out and have fun-filled morning of music. We have been holding Mousike Ensemble events since 2001 and they always create a fantastic atmosphere among pupils and staff while demonstrating the importance of the arts in terms of a pupil's development.

"Through the collaboration, we have been able to raise awareness of some important issues including road safety, being safe online, healthy minds, friendship, and saying no to bullying, all while supporting the learning outcomes of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 through music and song.

"Each school was also invited to perform a school showcase which involved the children composing their own pieces of music, dance or performance. Everyone had a wonderful time and the noise level that came out of the hall was once again incredible.

"I'd like to thank everyone who supported this year's event and now look forward to putting together the 2024 collaboration."