Darwen Academy Student's Designs Go On National Sale

Darwen Aldridge Community Academy (DACA) Sixth Form student Khushna Sulaman Butt has been selected by Darwen-based wallcoverings company Graham and Brown to have one of her wall art designs turned into a wallpaper that will be sold nationwide through the Wilkinson chain of stores. Through an innovative partnership the Academy has developed with Graham and Brown Khushna and other A Level Art students took part in a design brief set by the company for its own in-house design team and professional commissioning designers. The three other Sixth Formers were also highly commended for their entries.

Louise Klinck (DACA Director of Learning) said of Khushna's achievement, " She did not get any special treatment and competed on an equal basis with professional designers many years older than her. The judges were not aware of her age and this is a fantastic achievement for an extremely talented young artist."

Khushna is one of the Academy's gifted and talented students, and all Academy staff receive regular training in how to make sure highly able students are constantly stretched and challenged. Howard McWilliam (DACA Assistant Principal) said, " Khushna's success along with our most recent examination results and where the Academy's Sixth Form was placed in the Government's Performance Tables confirms the high quality education all our Post 16 students receive'.

As a Gifted and Talented student Khushna also receives specialist assistance for Oxbridge application, and before Easter will be taking part with other Gifted and Talented students on a residential visit to Queen's College, Oxford. Through family contacts Khushna has also received commissions for paintings and sculptures from several large companies based in London.

Brendan Loughran (DACA Principal) said, "Khushna is an incredibly talented and hard working young artist. We are encouraging her to aim high as possible, and she's planning to apply to Ruskin College, Oxford."

Said Khushna, "I am really proud of myself, and really grateful to all of my teachers for the excellent help they give me. The art department here is fantastic and nothing is ever too much trouble for any of them".

Photo courtesy of the Lancashire Telegraph :