Students from Saracen Primary, St Teresa’s Primary and Broomlea Primary schools, have been participating in unique lessons linking creative arts with the ceramic-making heritage of Possilpark. Students expressed their artistic talents through creating tiles and scales to create decorative ‘pods’ which will be joined together to create colourful mosaic scales decorating a new 120m mythological creature known as the Bella the Beithir, located at Stockingfield Bridge.

Supported by ng homes, Make it Glasgow and artist Nichol Wheatley, Saracen Primary, St Teresa’s Primary and Broomlea Primary each created a school ‘pod’ with each student contributing to the design of their class ‘fish’, which together make up the school pod. Each student also decorated a ceramic tile which they kept as their own special token for participating in the project.

An after-hours family scales-making session, hosted at Keppoch Campus in March, provided further opportunity to build relationships within the schools. A buzz filled the Keppoch campus school hall as families from the schools came together to design additional pods.

Ruth Impey, Co-Founder of Make it Glasgow, praised the project saying: “The pods are so beautiful and different, reflecting and representing the individuality of every school pupil involved. A particular highlight for Make it Glasgow, was bringing the schools together to take part in a shared assembly for the very first time.”

“It was joyful to introduce the pod and scale project to every primary pupil on the Keppoch Campus. The kids were amazing and worked hard to produce their designs from the ‘design brief’ we set them. Talking to pupils about their local pottery history was really special, as well as linking this past ceramic production to present making with clay and patterns. We hope this local clay heritage and making for Bella the Beithir is, something they can be hugely proud of.”

Alison McGill, Head Teacher at Saracen Primary, has been thrilled to see the project launch in the schools and said: “It is fantastic to see the pods being included as of part our learning beyond the classroom. The opportunity for families to get involved in the scale-making as well is furthering our efforts to build relationships across the campus, linking the past with our future, strengthening our sense of place within this rich community. The personal responses from the children were incredible and we are excited to see their work displayed in this landmark.”

The pods should be ready to be installed on the Beithir once the upcoming installation season starts from mid-May 2025.

Catherine Rossine, ng home Chair, added: “It’s been a delight to watch this project come to life and it’s fantastic to see the schools and community come together to create a lasting contribution to Bella the Beithir which they will be able to visit for years to come.”

“We are looking forward to watching the project develop over the coming months and to see the pods and scales go into place on the Beithir later this year.”

Nichol Wheatley, Artist/Curator for the Stockingfield Bridge project, agreed: “I am delighted that ng homes has supported the participation of all of the primary schools at the Keppoch campus in creating artworks for Bella the Beithir. My original intention in creating the Beithir project was that it would be a massive artwork that communities across all of Glasgow can contribute to. The school pods will permanently display the artworks of the students from Saracen Primary, St Teresa’s Primary and Broomlea Primary. I would like to thank Scottish Canals for commissioning Bella and Make It Glasgow for their excellent work in working with the local schools."