Expressive Arts

We believe Art and Design offers students an extraordinary experience that focusses on creativity and the individual. We create projects that ensure students benefit from learning how to generate, organise, analyse and refine conceptualised artistic ideas. 

We are a team of experienced and dedicated Art teaching staff who are passionate about our subject. Together with our Artist-In-Residence and Art Technician, we embed artistic practice in our students; the creative and imaginative activities we introduce and nurture in our students develop self- expression, confidence and a sense of the individual identity. Also, by encouraging the development of original ideas through our creative projects and by embracing insights from multi disciplines, we further the development of well-rounded students who are ambitious in their own success. 

Students arrive from KS2 with a highly variable art education experience. We challenge gaps and inconsistencies by teaching practical isolated components. As students move through projects and year groups we make sure these components are re-encountered, building in complexity and opportunity and reinforcing previous learning. 

As students re-encounter the skills learned they build a base of knowledge and skills that give them the tools to further broaden their inquiry, imaginative and creative responses. 

Our Art curriculum enables all students to be better artists and believe this is achieved through providing opportunities to think critically and to embrace their mistakes and first efforts. 

We are committed to supporting every student and to sharing our passion for Art with high expectations of classroom behaviour; we are ambitious for all our students. We resolve to provide a positive learning environment, inclusive to all members of the class and we are aspirational about the progress that students can make, looking to support their preparation for the next stage of their education, future employment and their life. 

The Drama curriculum at EBS is designed with the long-term intention of instilling and developing core communication and collaboration skills in all children from the moment they begin their study of Drama. It is designed to equip all students with life-long skills in public-speaking under pressure, collaboration with a range of people, physical co-ordination, and development of creativity and confidence of expression. Alongside this, skills are developed from Year 7 in a through-line to the demands of the GCSE and A-Level specifications, to ensure that skills are built upon and progression continues effectively into KS4 and KS5. 

Our schemes of work are either primarily Drama skills or issue-based, but the core skills of communication, collaboration, coordination, and confidence underpin all lessons. 

Year 7 begins with teacher-led Skills Workshops; introduces students to fundamental skills, with contextual repetition and reinforcement of the use of Drama techniques throughout each Key Stage. Students are assessed after each scheme of work (half termly) on one of more of the criteria for Collaboration, Performance, and Evaluation. 

We believe that the Drama department embodies the school values of ‘Do the Right Thing’ and educating ‘The Whole Person’, and we emphasize and insist on respect and inclusivity as core values that are necessary in order to create an atmosphere in which confidence and creativity can thrive. Students in Drama learn about and explore people of a range of ethnicities, abilities, religions, genders, and sexuality, in schemes of work that are tailored and updated regularly in order to reflect the world in which the students are growing up. We believe that developing understanding and empathy are essential human characteristics, and instil them in all students – from being a good audience member, to thinking about and portraying people who face challenges different to our own. This is expanded further in KS4 and KS5, as they create their own pieces of theatre in response to chosen stimulus material, and explore professionally written texts. 

We offer a huge level of extra-curricular cultural content in order to expose and enthuse our students. As well as Drama clubs for Years 7 and 8, we organize regular Drama trips for all year groups. We recently took 47 Disadvantaged students to watch the musical Hamilton, have developed a relationship with the Donmar Warehouse during which they have visited EBS to lead workshops several times, and have positive working relationships with local groups and professional theatre companies. We are passionate champions of the Arts and steadfastly believe that making the Arts relevant and accessible to all young people is a critical part of our job, and vital to our students’ development as both individuals and members of the community. 

Music offers a gateway into one of the largest industries in the world and at East Barnet School it is an integral part of school life. All of our students receive a balanced and ambitious music programme which centres around the development of performing, composing and appraising skills. Learning to play a musical instrument improves strength and dexterity, muscle memory and confidence, whilst composing and appraising encourages creativity, code breaking and critical thinking. Lessons are designed to be inclusive through kinaesthetic and multi-sensory learning, whilst stretching more able students. Careful consideration has been made to allow a smooth transition from KS2 and to develop the knowledge and skills needed to be successful at KS4 and KS5. Our pupils celebrate diversity within music and learn about a wide range of musical genres and cultures. 

We have two classically trained, full time teachers, as well as a fantastic team of visiting peripatetic tutors. As a department we promote our school values. Pupils are trusted to do the right thing whilst they work independently or in small groups in our practice rooms. We encourage them to show respect, kindness and professionalism through teamwork, organisation, following instructions and, crucially, listening to each other. We enjoy watching our pupils grow in confidence and resilience as they prepare to perform either in lessons or more public performances. 

One of our large bespoke music classrooms has recently been equipped with new keyboard instruments and the other with a class set of African drums. We have five new computers running Cubase and have applied for funding to improve the IT facilities to enable pupils in all key stages the opportunity to compose music using industry standard software. 

Music brings people together, and students regularly meet to make music at lunch times and after school, to attend clubs such as orchestra and choir, or to form small ensembles of their own. This allows them to mix with like-minded pupils from other classes and year groups. Family and friends are welcomed into the school for regular performances including the annual school musical. 

We love inspiring our pupils to enjoy and excel in music. The appreciation and understanding that they gain from their lessons and extra-curricular activities stimulates creativity and provides enrichment that can last a lifetime.