CHILDREN have been getting creative by learning about local artists, African drumming and visiting a wildlife centre.

Harwich Primary School pupils have been working on a host of creative projects and have been awarded two grants.

Students were invited to a special art day at Essex University where key stage two pupils learnt about local artist John Constable.

The university then arranged for some artists to work with key stage one children at the school who learnt about British values as set out by the Department of Education.

The school has also received a grant by Nineveh Trust to send every pupil to the Naze Wildlife Trust Centre, in Walton.

Debbie Byles, deputy head teacher, said: "In July this year we went on coaches to the Naze over three days where the children learnt about fossils, coastal erosion and they went small creature hunting.

"We were very grateful to them as a school and the children had a fantastic time.

"We were then able to have a science, technology, engineering and maths week in school drawing on our learning from the Naze trips."

The school was also awarded a grant from the Foyle Foundation to help with its library.

The trust provided the school with enough funds to implement a new reading scheme and the school was able to purchased more than 500 books.

Ms Byles added: "With all of these great things going on we also managed to squeeze in an Ofsted inspection which rated our school as good and we are so proud of this achievement and indeed of all the lovely things that have been happening in our school so far this year."

Year six pupils are currently involved in the Junior Warden Project with Tendring Council, where they have had an African drumming and storytelling workshop.

They will soon be experiencing a Bollywood dancing class.