Expressive Arts
The ability to think and express creatively contributes enormously to the development of the whole child: emotionally, aesthetically, physically, socially and cognitively.
We want to ignite our pupils’ imagination, give them the confidence to express themselves and to better understand the world around them.
At Ibstock, Expressive Arts are embedded into the Curriculum with many further Co-Curricular options also available. Whilst there is much collaboration between all the Arts, we divide them into three departments: Art and Design & Technology, Music and Creative Arts.
Art and Design & Technology
Pupils are encouraged to view their Art and Design & Technology lessons beyond the learning of technical skills as the process of looking; organising; thinking; wondering; questioning; imagining; communicating and enjoyment.
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Art lessons provide all children with the opportunity to express themselves imaginatively, creatively and develops their understanding of the world around them. Pupils are exposed to many sensory experiences whilst exploring a vast range of media, artists and cultures.
Design and Technology involves two important elements: learning about the design world and how things work and learning to design and make functional products for purposes and users. Children work independently and in groups, learning to co-operate, plan, design and make and evaluate their work. |
Timetable
Art and Design & Technology are generously timetabled and taught in a dedicated Art studio. The terms are split into the following directive teaching across the whole Pre-Prep & Prep School.
- Autumn Term: Fine Art
- Spring Term: Design & Technology
- Summer Term: Collaborative projects and 'Arts Week' culminating in 'The Art Show'
Music
We offer a wide-ranging programme of musical education for all pupils, from the beginner to the most advanced performer. We aim to foster a love and enjoyment of music and performing and to make music accessible to all pupils.
In the early years, children build listening and performing skills through singing, movement, and percussion. We introduce a wide range of styles, inspiring imagination and the first steps in composition. From Prep 3, pupils progress to reading notation, recognising form and harmony, and performing in parts with confidence. They compose using drones, chords, and contrasting sections, while broadening their appreciation of music from Coleridge-Taylor and Beethoven to Jazz, World, and Contemporary styles. By Prep 6, our pupils perform expressively in ensembles and celebrate their achievements in the end-of-year production.
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All pupils receive one hour of Music tution a week. Lessons are centred around physically exploring music through movement, as well as exploring sound through listening, composing, improvising and performing. Developing singing voices and instrumental skills as a class, helps our pupils develop self-esteem, communication skills, expressiveness and creativity. Our musicians are encouraged to practice their performance skills just as much as their instruments and voices, so we provide as many opportunities as possible to gain experience in front of an audience. Platforms range from Assemblies, Teatime Concerts, Autumn and Summer Concerts, to special events like the Carol Service and the Roehampton Community Street Band. |
Co-Curricular Music Activities
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Live performance is a vital part of life in the Music department and pupils regularly have the opportunity to perform as soloists and in ensembles. Our extensive Ensembles provision reflects a broad range of musical tastes and styles and is designed to cater to as many interests and abilities as possible. Our ensembles include:
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| Instrumental Lessons: | ||||||||||||||||||
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Pupils are able to take instrumental lessons with our Visiting Music Teachers from Prep 1. Instrumental lessons take place during the school day and are scheduled on a rotating basis, minimising the impact on time away from the curriculum. All of our visiting music teachers are experienced, talented musicians, with specialist skills in teaching young people. Pupils have a wide range of instruments to choose from as they progress through the Prep School and every instrument has a corresponding Ensemble to further enhance pupil progress. |
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We are proud to run two instrumental schemes, designed to give pupils a flavour of what it might be like to learn an instrument. All pupils in Prep 1 receive a term of tuition from our professional visiting music teachers on either the violin or cello, before being offered the chance to continue as part of the String Scheme, which offers small ensemble sessions to compliment the work undertaken in private lessons. Similarly, all pupils in Prep 3 are offered the chance to learn the recorder, getting to grips with the basics for a term. Even if children choose not to continue the instrumental tuition, understanding the commitment and discipline required to learn an instrument is an important part of appreciating music. |
Creative Arts
All pupils receive one hour a week of Creative Arts, which includes Dance and Drama. Every lesson is practical and collaborative, enabling pupils to develop their transferrable skills including communication, teamwork, and leadership.
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Pupils are taught the skills needed for choreographing dance and devising drama, encouraging them to think creatively. Specialist Dance lessons where pupils can concentrate on a particular style, are part of our Co-Curricular offering. Pupils are also taught Performing Skills for a variety of styles and genres to help in preparation for Showcases and Plays. |
Explore our Prep School
