Arts
In 2010 we were awarded our Artsmark Gold Award in recognition of our dedication to the use of the creative arts both in the classroom and in our extra-curricular work. We are fortunate in school to have specialist music and art teachers and as such our curriculum offers many opportunities for the children to engage with their creative side. We also take as many opportunities as we can to extend their experiences through our clubs and vists. We are very proud of the achievements of our children in the arts.
For a number of years we during the summer months we have been involved in Creative Enquiry projects, which have enabled the children to work with professional musicans, artists and poets for up to a fortnight. These experiences have been invaluable not only in developing the children's creative skills, but in building up their confidence, independence and communication skills amongst others.
Music
We are a school who enjoys our singing - aside from opportunities for singing in the classrooom we have a weekly whole school singing session. Each year the children have the opportunity to take part in the Young Voices Concert - a 5,000 strong children's choir - at Sheffield Arena and we also have our own performances in school. Over the last few years we have sung as part of the premiere of 'A Lincolnshire Festival' in Lincoln and were also invited to sing at Lincoln Castle. We have sung at Grimsby Auditorium as well as all the major supermarkets in Grimsby and Cleethorpes. Each year we also have an inter-class singing competition - 'Juniorvision' - which gives the children (and staff!) the chance to show off their creative flair!
Children get the opportunity to use a wide range of percussion instruments in class lessons both for performance and composition work. For those who are interested in taking their instrumental work further, children have the opportunity to take music lessons on a variety of instruments including guitar, trumpet, flute, clarinet and keyboard, amongst others. These lessons are taught by a dedicated music teacher and although there is a small charge for lessons we are able to offer some assissted places for those who need them.
We value live performances and when ever we have the opportunity we seek to provide this experience for the children. Our favourite over the last years has been the American Folk singer, Rick Palieri, who has visited school many times and has always been very popular!
All children get the opportunity to be involved in our music making whatever their ability - our only requirement is that they enjoy it.
Dance and Drama
Although drama is not taught as a subject in its own right, it makes a regular appearance in many of our other subjects. For example, we use role play and hot-seating in RE to help children empathise with the beliefs and feelings of others. Likewise techniques such as the 'conscience tunnel' may be used in PSHE to help children think about someone elses point of view. The children have had the opportunity to write and perform their own own T.V. adverts in Literacy. Children also get the opportunity to be involved in a whole school perfomance at least once a year.
Dance is mostly taught through our PE curriculum and has in the past involved the children engaging in everything from their own interpretive dance, through country dancing to street dance.
Art
Through our weekly art lessons children are taught not only about art and artists but have the opportunity to develop their own skills in a range of techniques. Children work with clay, paint, textiles, chalks, cray-pas and even chicken wire, amongst many other forms of media to produce their art work. They have studied various forms of art from aboriginal to Van Gogh to Andy Wharhol. Each year one of our year groups holds an art exhibition when our school hall is turned into an art gallery for two days. Recently we have taken children to visit the Yorkshire Sculpture Park as well as previous visits to the Usher Gallery in Lincoln and the Ferens Gallery in Hull.
Private and small group tuition
We currently offer lessons on a range of musical instruments including guitar, clarinet, flute, cornet, keyboard and drums with others besides. Children also have the oppoortunity to take singing or drama lessons.
The lessons are provided by 'What a Performance' and are all delivered by an independent music teacher whom we have been working with for a number of years. The school supports the lessons by providing space for them to take place, as well as allowing time out of class for the lessons and giving children opportunities to perform either individually or in our band or some other grouping. However, the administration of the lessons, hire of instruments etc. is organised directly between 'What a Performance' and you.
If your child is interested in taking lessons please read and send back the letter below either to Mr Hornsby at school or directly to 'What a Performance'.
There is a charge payable directly to 'What a Performance' for lessons. However, we do have some assisted places available for those children who may be interested but for financial reasons are unable to take up lessons. Please contact Mr Hornsby at school if this applies to you.