Finding their spark
Our mission to grow upstanding people, equipped to navigate their future and alive to their talents and passions requires a holistic education. One which embraces all the many developmental benefits The Arts bring.
Visual Arts
Visual arts
Art is for everyone at Devonshire House. We want your child to learn to express themselves creatively using a variety of forms, building fine motor skills along the way:
- Drawing
- Painting
- 3D sculpture
- Print making
From Year 4, your child will have specialist teaching weekly in the art room. Lessons intentionally link to topics they are studying in other subjects, enriching understanding and broadening students’ knowledge. For example, while we paint the animals studied in science, we also learn about watercolour techniques and famous watercolour artists, tying science, art history and art techniques together.
The visual arts provision is enhanced by a range of enrichment opportunities:
- Art clubs
- Trips to galleries
- Art competitions e.g. The Royal Academy Young Artist Summer show
- Art Scholars group: helping talented artists develop portfolios for their prospective schools, including interview practice
- Art Exhibition: transforming the long hall to a gallery for the evening, showcasing your child’s work from Year 3
Music
Music
Your child will have weekly, specialist led, class music lessons from as young as Nursery.
Unlike many prep schools, we offer 1-1 lessons on most orchestral instruments, meaning your child is as likely to learn the French horn, saxophone or oboe as the more traditional piano, violin & flute. Trial sessions are available to help your child find the right instrument for them.
Music is for sharing, which explains our emphasis on providing your child with live music making opportunities:
- Junior Orchestra (Years 1-2)
- Chamber Orchestra (Years 3-8)
- Choirs
- Jazz band
- Woodwind group
- String ensemble.
From an early age, your child will practise performing in front of an audience in assemblies, gaining the confidence for bigger audiences such as:
- Tea concerts
- Singing for the local community
- Music jamborees
- Carol services
- Prize day
- Charity choral performances in London venues
- Choir tours abroad, most recently Venice & Prague
If your child shows musical promise and talent, they may be awarded one of our internal music scholarships in Year 3. These bring both financial benefit and an ambassadorial role. Scholars are role models for younger children, buddying them and encouraging them to take part in concerts, sowing the seeds for music for life. We also prepare children for Music Scholarships to senior schools.
Drama
Drama
Drama provides an important creative stimulus away from the academic rigour of the classroom. It builds confidence, promotes teamwork, and is a wonderful way to learn about yourself and others.
Your child will have annual opportunities to be on the stage and experience the full range of human emotions performance can bring – excitement, nerves, pride and elation. From Nursery to Year 3, this takes the form of Christmas productions. Your child will be able to take part in a range of performances, as well as regular whole-school productions held off-site at The Tabernacle Theatre.
Our focus on inclusivity means your child will doubtless join many generations before in demonstrating a real appetite to contribute to our productions in some guise. All talents are promoted and celebrated, from the talented drummer who doesn’t want to say anything, to the artist who makes mind-blowing props to the eagle-eyed reader who prompts when memories falter.
