A New Mural for Claremont Primary School

Walk along Claremont Road, and you’ll notice that, where recently there was a nondescript, long brick wall, there’s now a vibrant mural celebrating Claremont Primary School, which sits behind it.

The mural explores different ways of learning, from play to reading, drawing and science experiments, and the journey from primary to secondary school, and on to university.

Against a sky blue background, the mural shows a radiant sun at its centre, the school’s name in white print, and a series of bold, bright images. Claremont, Mapledown and Whitefield Schools are featured alongside soon-to-be-opened Brent Cross West Station and an imagined university.

Claremont Primary School’s golden rules are depicted in stars, showing how easy it can be to shine if you do the right thing, while two large banners filled with the flags of different countries with the words “Our Community” and “The World is One” painted within them to reflect our diverse neighbourhood.

Representing kindness, respect, forgiveness and inclusion, the artwork offers an uplifting message of hope for the future.

The idea for the mural was initiated by the school’s pastoral officer Michelle Golan, who worked with a group of pupils to create a proposal for the project which was then sent as an application for the Brent Cross Town Community Fund in 2022, and won its bid.

The design was brought together by Barnet artist Julia Elmore, who facilitated three workshops with the school’s Art Ambassadors, in which she encouraged them to explore ideas and designs that could be interpreted by everyone, and to create bold images that could be seen from passing buses as well as smaller details that could be appreciated by people who stopped to look.

Julia Elmore then collated the drawings into a comprehensive design, super sized it, and marked it up onto the wall, where it was painted in by volunteer parents, staff, a small number of children, local community members, volunteers from Related Argent, Galliford Try and Barnet Council, and friends of the artist. As well as funding the project, Brent Cross Town donated materials and paints.

The Brent Cross Town Community Fund is delighted to have been able to facilitate this project, giving Claremont Primary the chance to show off its diverse, vibrant community and positive values, as well as brightening up the neighbourhood.

For more updates from Brent Cross Town and news on what’s on in north London, follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.