Expressive Arts
Our Faculty Mission Statement is:
Within the Expressive Arts family we aim to build global Catholic citizens through challenging and stretching our students as artists and performers. We instil the belief that with faith in God, students can succeed in showcasing their talents.
We develop skills in Art, Music and Drama to nurture cultural awareness and creativity. This enables all students to develop as creative thinkers and reflect the wonders of God’s creation in their pursuit for excellence.
Our Expressive Arts faculty includes Art, Music and Drama.
Art
The Art department aims to build global Catholic citizens by challenging and stretching all students through an ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum . At St. James’ we use Art as a tool to nurture cultural awareness and creativity and enable all students to widen their awareness of the world they live in. We aim to provide all children with a wide ranging, positive experience, which encourages a lifelong interest in the arts. The Art curriculum is planned and sequenced so that new knowledge and skills are delivered in logical progression and build on what has been taught before, encouraging students to increase their proficiency. We strive to ensure that each and every pupil has the opportunity to develop as a creative thinker within the department’s programme of study.
In our teaching we increase visual literacy through observation, critical analysis and questioning. Our Art curriculum is critical and contextual at its core. Artists, craftspeople and designers are used to underpin practical tasks to support, develop and allow students to investigate further. We explore techniques, materials and ideas through engaging schemes of work which are sympathetic to all pupils’ needs,
In Year 7, students are assessed in their first lesson to ascertain prior learning and provide a benchmark to inform and adapt teaching. Differentiated tasks cater for the progression of all students. We introduce the formal elements of Art and Design through: line, tone, shape, pattern, colour and form at an introductory level. We investigate a broad range of contemporary and historical artworks and develop literacy skills through key words, written evaluations, analysing artworks and expressing opinions. In Year 8 students build upon learning from Year 7 to further develop skills and techniques. They are introduced to a wider variety of materials and techniques through a well-sequenced and challenging curriculum. In Year 9 students continue to extend their knowledge and understanding through creative practice while demonstrating an increasingly mature approach to their studies. Students develop advanced skills and processes including the use of higher level critical thinking. Students begin to lead their own work more independently in preparation for GCSE level study.
A high-quality Art curriculum enables pupils to enjoy and succeed as creative thinkers and become fully rounded individuals. It gives students the opportunity to explore visual, tactile and other sensory experiences to communicate ideas and meanings through their studies. Through the exploration of traditional and new media students develop confidence, competence, imagination and creativity. They learn to appreciate and value images and artefacts across times and cultures, and to understand the contexts in which they were made. Students are encouraged to reflect critically on their own and other people’s work, judging quality, value and meaning. They become adventurous and enquiring whilst learning to think and act as artists, craftspeople and designers. We encourage all students to work creatively and intelligently with the potential of progressing into the creative industries.
- Curriculum Progression Model Year 7
- Curriculum Progression Model Year 8
- Curriculum Progression Model Year 9
- Curriculum Progression Model Year 10
- Curriculum Progression Model Year 11
Music
The Music department aims to build global Catholic citizens by developing students’ knowledge through a variety of instrumental performances, creative tasks, technology projects and critical listening. We aim to provide all children with the opportunity to perform and grow their confidence through a range of engaging and challenging topics. In Key Stage 3 pupils will develop the skills necessary to succeed at GCSE level by developing on skills learned in each year.
Our music lessons provide pupils with a diverse, ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum that delves into music from a variety of cultures and contexts. Pupils will explore a range of instruments including keyboard, ukulele and Samba drums. In each topic, pupils will learn key terms and develop their musical vocabulary.
In Year 7 pupils are given a benchmark assessment that is used to inform future teaching strategies. Pupils will explore a number of topics through key musical elements such as rhythm, pitch, and texture via a range of relevant and differentiated examples. Throughout the year pupils will have the chance to compose, perform and analyse a range of musical styles. In Year 8 pupils will build upon their previous knowledge and begin to learn more complex techniques such as improvisation and extended chords. Pupils will learn how to perform a variety of styles including Blues, Reggae and Pop. Pupils will also begin to use music technology to compose music.
In Year 9 students begin to study topics that closely link to those on the GCSE specification such as, Minimalism and Film music, using both a practical and compositional approach to maximise learning . They will begin to develop a deeper knowledge of how music is created and apply this to their own work.
During KS3 pupils are assessed in a variety of ways including solo performances, group performances, aural tests and projects. Pupils are then given detailed feedback on ways to improve.
Our music curriculum is designed to build confidence through expression and performance. Its purpose is to widen pupil’s’ perception of other cultures by investigating their music. The extra-curricular opportunities in school give pupils the chance to showcase their talents and apply their new skills to the outside world.
We believe that music facilitates learning across a range of subjects by engaging and linking the right and left hemispheres of the brain, helping co-ordination, and improving memory and language skills which, consequently, assists in the development of the whole child and enhances their learning throughout the school.
Drama
The Drama Department aims to build global Catholic citizens by helping all children fulfil their potential in line with the school’s Mission Statement. Here, through positive participation, it is hoped that every pupil can develop their “emotional literacy” and analytical awareness by seeing the world imaginatively from other perspectives. This imaginative engagement develops the students’ critical thinking.
Key components of our Drama curriculum include:
- A strong foundation in classical and contemporary drama: Students explore the works of renowned playwrights such as Shakespeare, while also studying modern pieces that reflect contemporary issues and experiences.
- Opportunities for practical application: Our students have the chance to perform in a variety of productions, from traditional plays to original works. This hands-on experience allows them to develop their acting, directing, and technical skills.
- A focus on technical theatre: We offer courses in set design, lighting, sound, and costume design, providing students with a well-rounded understanding of the behind-the-scenes aspects of theatre production.
- Community engagement: Our Drama program is committed to giving back to the community. We regularly participate in outreach projects, such as performing for local charities and schools.
- A supportive and inclusive environment: We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive space where all students feel encouraged to explore their creativity and express themselves freely.
By participating in our Drama program, students will develop essential skills such as:
- Communication and collaboration: Working together to create theatre productions requires strong communication and teamwork skills.
- Creativity and problem-solving: Students learn to think creatively and find innovative solutions to challenges.
- Confidence and self-expression: Performing on stage can help students develop confidence and self-expression.
- Empathy and understanding: Exploring diverse characters and stories can foster empathy and understanding of different perspectives.
At St. James we deliver an ambitious and well-sequenced Drama curriculum. In Year 7, pupils are expected to meet and explore a range of drama techniques which are developed and extended in Year 8. In Year 9, the emphasis is increasingly on the choices they make for themselves when deciding how to interpret texts, develop ideas and explore situations through performance. When pupils are creating, performing and responding to drama, they are actively developing their skills and understanding that are central to progress in Literacy. Drama helps pupils to recognise the layers of meaning that exist in text and contexts, to develop their knowledge of dramatic conventions and their sense of audience. They do so as participants in making drama and by stepping back to appreciate and appraise their own contributions and those of others.
