FINTON HOUSE SCHOOL

Adding colour to the curriculum

At Finton House involvement in Creative Arts is part of our commitment to educating the whole child. We believe that through art, drama and music children gain confidence and learn to better express their feelings about the world and their experience within it.

Art

Art is taught from Reception in a bright, purpose-built room by a specialist teacher. Children are given the opportunity to work in a variety of media and to develop their creative and technical skills. Whilst some projects are planned to complement areas of study in different subjects we firmly believe in the importance of art in its own right.

Year 5 visited theWatts Gallery near Guildford recently, and their experience led them to create some extraordinary pieces of work based on the paintings they studied. It has also led to the development of an ongoing relationship between the school and the gallery. To find out more about the Watts Gallery, click here.

Drama

Children have weekly drama lessons as part of the English curriculum and performing is an important part of life at Finton House. In addition to regular class assemblies there are year group plays produced in conjunction with the Music Department. The annual Year 2 and Year 6 plays are highlights of the year. By the end of their time at Finton House children  are seasoned and enthusiastic performers.

Music

The Music Department is a large, active and accomplished part of the school. Based in its own building in the school's grounds, it is led by Maria Meyers and supported by peripatetic instrumental teachers.

In their weekly music lessons pupils are taught to read music, compose their own pieces, sing and play the recorder. They regularly perform in assemblies, at concerts and in productions through the year. Many children also take advantage of individual lessons in piano, recorder, clarinet, trumpet, saxophone and flute.

In addition to class and individual lessons some children are taught as part of the Y5 and Y6 bands or the recorder ensembles. All children participate in their year group-specific choir and occasionally some children are selected for small chamber choirs.