Curriculum

Bishopsgate School>Curriculum>Creative & Performing Arts

Creative & Performing Arts

At Bishopsgate, we believe in unleashing the creativity within each child. Through outstanding performing arts opportunities, they explore their artistic passions, grow in confidence, and inspire others on our stage. With a wide array of musicals, carol concerts, showcases, chapel performances, and serenades, over 200 children have graced our stage in the last year alone. Incorporating creative expression into the academic timetable, music and drama lessons take place in our dedicated Music School or Performing Arts Theatre (Vickers Hall).

Musical excellence

Music is at the heart of our school. On average 180 children take part in weekly peripatetic music lessons, with at least a third of these entering Royal Schools of Music examinations each year.

Igniting Creative Souls

Every child at Bishopsgate gets a chance to shine on stage. Enchanting performances like Frozen Jr and Honk, alongside heart-warming Christmas productions, showcase our inner artists. Unity prevails as our Nursery and Reception children delight us with magical Nativity plays, fostering a strong bond among pupils, staff, and parents.

Harmony in voices

Every child gets the opportunity to sing on a weekly basis. Whether in the Senior Choir, Chamber Choir, or any of our many choirs, orchestras, and bands, they rehearse and perform regularly.

Exploring the power of language

Through our annual House Poetry Declamation Festival, pupils discover the beauty and emotional impact of language, fostering their creativity.

Nurturing talent

Several of our talented pupils have earned Music and Drama scholarships at top senior schools, testament to the nurturing environment at Bishopsgate.

“In my role in Performing Arts, I love watching pupils who, in a normal classroom context, can be shy, reserved and self-conscious, come alive through drama. When you give them a role or a character to become, you can watch them lose all their inhibitions and transform into someone else, transporting themselves to another place and another world. It is incredibly rewarding to see their confidence grow as they express themselves through performance.”

Tizzy Aalders, Drama Teacher

“My favourite part of the teaching year is the Lent Term, when Year 3 get to choose the styles of music they want to learn about. Each class gets to vote on two styles of music the children would like to learn more about, and choices have ranged from Hip Hop to Classical to Silly Songs. The children and I both learn about the history and musicians, and we also create music in that style. It’s amazing to see how much the children are invested in their learning when they have chosen what we will be studying, and I get to learn something new as well!”

Mich Mazzocco, Director of Music