Discover and Explore:
Pupils access the Arts through weekly Art, Music and Drama sessions that nurture curiosity, communication and enjoyment. They begin to discover what they like, how they express themselves and experience how creative experiences can support regulation, wellbeing and engagement.
In art, pupils explore colour, texture, mark-making and materials through hands-on experiences such as painting, drawing printing and textured collages. They show preferences for colours, tools and visual experiences and begin creating marks with developing confidence.
In music, pupils experience rhythm, tempo, familiar songs and a wide range of instruments. They respond to musical cues, join in repeated patterns or actions and communicate through movement, gesture or vocalisation.
In drama, pupils engage with character, action and imaginative play through stories, props, role-play and expressive movement. They respond to cues, join familiar routines and participate in early performative actions.
Together, these experiences help pupils discover creative activities they enjoy and begin to use them in everyday life, whether choosing favourite colours, responding to music that helps them feel calm or engaging in creative play and connecting with others.
Through KS4 and KS5, pupils continue to engage in the Arts through a termly rotation of Art, Drama and Performing Arts. During these years, they work towards achieving the Arts Award Discover, gaining recognition for their creative interests, the art forms they explore and experiencing and sharing creative achievements with others.
Explore and Enquire
Pupils access weekly Art, Music and Drama sessions that develop their ability to explore ideas, make choices and begin shaping their own creative intentions. They learn how creative experiences can support expression, communication and wellbeing.
In art, pupils experiment with techniques, tools and materials, producing artwork with increasing confidence and independence. They explore themes, make choices about colour and composition and begin to communicate about what they have created.
In music, pupils explore rhythm, pattern, instruments and musical structure. They take part in group music-making, respond to changes in sound and begin to create short musical patterns or motifs.
In drama, pupils participate in role-play, movement, character exploration and simple improvisation. They practise turn-taking, communicate ideas through expression and begin presenting pieces of work to others.
These experiences help pupils recognise the creative activities they enjoy and understand how the Arts can support regulation, communication and personal expression both in school and in everyday situations.
Across KS4 and KS5, pupils access a termly rotation of Art, Drama and Performing Arts and all pupils complete Arts Award Discover. Pupils in this pathway may also be offered opportunities to work towards additional creative accreditation such as AQA Unit Awards or further Arts Award programmes such as Arts Award Explore. These options allow pupils to broaden the range of art forms they experience, learn about artists and practitioners, and share what they have created or enjoyed, gaining recognition that celebrates their creative journey.
Enquire and Beyond
Pupils explore Art, Music and Drama with increasing independence and creative ownership. They reflect on influences, develop personal ideas and use creativity as a meaningful form of communication and self-expression.
In art, pupils create more sustained pieces, exploring techniques, styles and themes that interest them. They make purposeful decisions, evaluate their work and communicate the ideas or influences behind it.
In music, pupils deepen skills in listening, performance and composition. They explore rhythm, structure and expressive qualities, working individually or collaboratively to develop musical pieces.
In drama, pupils explore character, movement, storytelling and performance. They collaborate, rehearse and present work with growing confidence and reflect on how drama communicates ideas and emotions.
Pupils are supported to use creativity in purposeful ways, expressing themselves, managing wellbeing, developing interests and communicating identity as they move towards adulthood.
In KS4 and KS5, pupils continue their creative studies through a termly rotation of Art (autumn), Drama (spring) and Performing Arts (summer). All pupils complete Arts Award Discover, and pupils in this pathway may also have opportunities to extend their creative work through additional awards and qualifications. This may include AQA Unit Awards or further Arts Award programmes such as Arts Award Explore or Bronze, where appropriate. These experiences enable pupils to deepen their interests, explore practitioners’ work and present creative outcomes in meaningful ways that celebrate their individuality and expression.