Kaleidoscope is a creative arts initiative across all schools within Pele Trust, designed to provide pupils with a platform to explore self-expression, individuality and wellbeing. Through music, dance, and art, the project brings together children from across Trust schools to collaborate, create and perform. 

At the heart of the project was a simple but powerful idea: that creativity isn’t just an activity, it’s a way of thinking, expressing and connecting. Pupils have been able to explore themes such as mental health, neurodiversity and self-expression, using the Arts to communicate their thoughts, feelings and hopes.

Ponteland Primary Headteacher, Claire Johnson, said: “The premise behind our Kaleidoscope project is to celebrate each of our differences: just as the multitude of colours in a kaleidoscope combine to create something special, so too do the differences in all of our children.”. 

Over the 2024/2025 academic year, students performed at Tyne Theatre and Opera House, sang in an extraordinary choir concert, and created art for an imaginative showcase at Ponteland Leisure Centre Exhibition. Each event has encouraged creative expression for students and brought students from different schools in Pele Trust together. 

A special thanks goes to the dedicated team of Pele Trust colleagues who worked tirelessly and with such enthusiasm to coordinate the Kaleidoscope events.

Tyne Theatre and Opera House

In June, the iconic Tyne Theatre and Opera House hosted a talented performance by children from Primary schools across Pele Trust. The event marked the culmination of a year-long journey exploring themes and creativity. 

The performance was a showcase of music, art, and dance, with each contribution reflecting the children's perspectives on the world around them. “It was a celebration of our children’s voices, talents and potential,” said Rachel Wademan, KS1 Phase Leader and English Lead at Darras Hall Primary School. “It was also a reflection of our commitment to putting a rich, inclusive Arts culture at the heart of everything we do across the Trust.”

We are incredibly proud of all the students, staff, and families who made this Kaleidoscope performance such a memorable event. The children’s combined efforts resulted in a show that was not only a triumph in performance, but also in collaboration, confidence and joy.

Choir concerts 

Attending a wide range of performances, the Kaleidoscope choirs across the schools have worked hard and sung beautifully. Their dedication has shone through each event, with pupils showing confidence, passion and enthusiasm on stage. 

Key Stage 1 Kaleidoscope choirs performed at Party in the Park. They embraced the opportunity to sing in front of a live audience, who cheered the children on. 

The Key Stage 2 Kaleidoscope choirs also attended Newcastle Tyne Theatre and Opera House for their performances, adding to the incredible range of creativity on display that evening. 

Gerry Miller, the Chair of Pele Trust board, said, “It was a truly outstanding musical event that showcased the best of creative children in our schools. Well done to those who helped organise an amazing event.” 

Hosted in Ponteland, 200 students gathered from all schools to perform two choir concerts together at the Kaleidoscope Art Exhibition. They performed music which they had created and rehearsed throughout the term. 

Art Exhibition 

To celebrate the Kaleidoscope project, Pele Trust hosted an exhibition, highlighting the creativity and commitment behind the initiative. Spanning several days, the event gave students the opportunity to see their work proudly displayed, celebrated and admired.

More than 1,000 pieces of artwork, exploring themes such as diversity and neurodiversity, were showcased, each one created by children from across the Pele Trust.

Adding to the atmosphere were the choir performances, helping to bring the project’s vision to life. Belsay Primary School Headteacher Craig Shaw perfectly summed up the exhibition and Kaleidoscope as a whole: “The creativity, collaboration and confidence shown by all involved was exceptional, a real celebration of the power of working together across schools.”