Jordan Tarlinton of Year 12 made the sculpture for the school from a chain, gas cylinders, mesh and cable, calling his creation Freedom. 

“I’ve been welding for a couple of years, self taught really,” he said.  

“I just love making stuff.” 

The Tarraganda resident has started to develop a following with his sculptures, selling his work as his fame spreads. 

He started off by making a horseshoe ball for his mother, then as people asked for them he made more and more. 

In his artwork Freedom, the bird at the bottom represents being caged in.

The second bird is learning to fly, then the third at the top represents reaching your full potential and leaving school. 

Jordan, who exhibited his artwork at Sculpture on the Edge in Bermagui this year, will continue to make sculptures after school and hopes to get a metal fabrication apprenticeship in Canberra.