SMSC in Creative Arts
Spiritual development in Creative Arts
The Creative Arts provide students with the opportunity to develop a sense of spirituality through the experiences and emotions generated during the creative process. Students are encouraged to explore their spirituality by creating original pieces of music, art, and drama. This exploration allows them to experience a sense of personal achievement when presenting their work and engage with subject matter that requires introspection and empathy for others. Through the act of creation, students delve into their inner selves, exploring their beliefs, values, and emotions. They learn to express complex feelings and ideas, often finding personal meaning and connection in their artistic endeavours. This process can be deeply fulfilling and spiritually enriching, fostering a greater understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Moral development in Creative Arts
Creative Arts subjects encourage students to express their own responses to moral dilemmas and emotions. They gain an appreciation for the work of practitioners in highlighting issues of unfairness and injustice, as well as discussing moral dilemmas and the artistic expression of what is morally right. Critical discussions in response to challenging artworks, plays, and music are integral to learning and development, fostering a deeper understanding of moral complexities. By examining and creating works that tackle themes of right and wrong, students are encouraged to think critically about their own values and the impact of their actions. This process helps them develop a nuanced perspective on ethical issues, enabling them to articulate and defend their views while respecting differing opinions.
Social development in Creative Arts
Music, art, and drama are inherently collaborative and social subjects. Working collaboratively is a fundamental aspect of learning within the Creative Arts department. Group activities require students to share, refine, and discard ideas through cooperation and sensitivity to the feelings and opinions of others. Performing and presenting in front of audiences during lessons enhances their ability to interact with others in various ways. Extra-curricular activities, such as school productions, workshops, choirs, concert bands, rock groups, and drama clubs, offer numerous opportunities for students to collaborate, meet new people, and create art with like-minded individuals. These activities help students develop important social skills, such as communication, teamwork, and leadership. They also foster a sense of community and belonging, as students work together towards common goals and share in each other's successes.
Cultural development in Creative Arts
The curriculum in the Creative Arts department is broad and comprehensive, allowing students to explore music from the British Isles and around the world. This includes Western classical music, a diverse range of 20th-century music (such as rock, pop, film music, jazz, minimalism), and world music (including African drumming, Indian music, and Latin American styles). In drama, students study texts and dramatic art forms from various cultures, fostering connections between different cultures and their own. In art, students explore a variety of past and present practitioners in discovering their own means of expression. This cultural exploration helps students appreciate the richness and diversity of human creativity, encouraging them to see the value in different perspectives and traditions. It also helps them develop a global outlook, understanding how cultural exchange and interaction have shaped the arts and continue to do so today.
Extra-Curricular Activities
These activities promote democracy, free choice, adherence to rules and guidelines, and cultural exploration. Examples include independent use of school resources, responsibility for equipment, school productions, student-led concerts, Christmas events, drama clubs, and other extra-curricular events. These activities contribute to citizenship development through engagement with other cultures and beliefs. They also provide a platform for students to practise and reinforce the values learned in the classroom, helping them become well-rounded and responsible individuals.