Expressive Arts
From star performers to those more comfortable supporting backstage all pupils take part in the expressive arts throughout their career at Beaconhurst as part of their all-round education. The Junior School puts on two productions at the end of the autumn term. All pupils from Senior 3 to Senior 6 take part in a whole-school musical either performing, working on elements behind the scenes, in the band or as part of the media group. Through this, a great sense of team spirit prevails with each individual contributing to the overall success of the production. In recent years, performances of Little Shop of Horrors, Bugsy Malone, and Bouncers have been staged.
In addition, there is a wide range of optional productions every year, from an intensive drama weekend to a Christmas pantomime. Pupils can also take speech and drama classes and are regularly presented for examinations through the London Academy of Music and Drama (LAMDA) and also take part in local performance competitions.
In the Art Department pupils have the opportunity to experiment with pottery and many other craftwork materials, the emphasis being on encouraging pupils to design and make their own creations. The school also has a dark room and senior pupils may choose to study a photography module in their Senior 6 year. Senior pupils are regularly supervised in producing portfolios for art school submission.
Class music takes place from Junior 1 to Senior 2 and tuition is available in most orchestral instruments as well as piano, recorder, keyboard, voice and guitar with approximately half of our pupils learning a musical instrument in any given year. There are a number of choral and instrumental groups which rehearse regularly and perform both at school concerts and at external events; most recently the ‘Principal's Music’ at Stirling University. Art, Drama and Music are all available as specialist subjects at Standard Grade and Higher.
