The Arts

The demands of the choral tradition mean that music will always, quite rightly, play a large part in the life of the School. Just as music does not stop at the Choir Stalls, and the making of it is not confined to the Cathedral Choristers, so the performing and expressive arts spread beyond the musical.

Drama is a core element of the timetabled curriculum. Starting with the very youngest pupils in a form room setting, children are introduced to role play and set piece dramas. Through the Pre-prep department and into the early years of the Prep, children experience drama as part of their English curriculum with their form teachers. At the age of 9, Drama becomes a specialist subject and part of the carousel of expressive arts taught each week

Play production is an important aspect of the drama course and everyone will usually take part in at least one such production each year - some children in a good many more! Just as important is informal improvised drama, where children develop self-confidence and the ability to express themselves.

Along with music and drama, pupils follow courses in art, design technology and ceramics.

Art and design is taught by the form teachers up to Year 4 level so that work can be more easily incorporated into the general themes being followed by the class. From Year 5 the curriculum is taught by specialist teachers in our art studios. The courses are modular, in half termly or termly blocks.

Various techniques are used and emphasis is given to working in a variety of media, not simply painting and drawing. Three dimensional work, for example, might be done in paper, clay, polystyrene or plaster Paris, to name but a few.

Pupils with special talent are offered extra timetabled lessons so that they can prepare for art scholarships to their chosen senior schools should they so wish, or simply extend and enjoy their own particular skills.

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