A YEAR seven pupil got the incredible opportunity to work with a professional artist and collaborate on a new art piece.

Netherwood Academy’s Elsa Kemp worked with artist Caroline Cardus on a new project that was unveiled in her school on Monday.

Working with Barnsley Civic, the Wombwell-based school has been providing unique opportunities for pupils to engage with local and national artists, designers, theatre makers and writers.

At the beginning of the year, they installed the public artwork - The Way Ahead - in the school’s art department which was on display for all students to see for a full academic year.

The artwork by Caroline uses road signs to comment and reflect on the experiences of disabled people

Pupils were given the opportunity to add their work through a competition, with Caroline choosing Elsa’s submission, which explores the concept of ‘masking’ - a strategy used by some autistic people to appear non-autistic in order to blend in.

Barnsley Civic’s creative engagement manager Jason White said: “We are really excited to draw a full year of partnership working with Netherwood Academy to a close with this special presentation.

“We are proud of the way that Elsa, who is only in year seven, articulately spoke out about her experience of autism.

“Her contribution to the wider collection of signs, will help other young people understand more about the experiences of autistic people.”