The school is very proud of its extensive provision for the arts both within the curriculum and as extra-curricular activities. We feel that it encourages children to express themselves and to develop confidence and self-esteem as well as creative flair.

 

Music is flourishing at the school. Children in Years 2 to 6 are able to join the choir which meets weekly. Our next big performance will be at the O2 arena in March 2012. The children have a great deal of fun and are able to perform a considerable repertoire of songs. There have been major productions at the end of the Summer Term and these have included “Joseph and the amazing Technicolor dreamcoat”, “The Priory School West End Medley” and “The Priory School Poptastic Production”, the latter two written by members of staff. In Years 2 , and 4Monday, January 16, 2012 2:08:55 PM t, all children are able to learn to play the recorder and currently nearly 40 children participate in this popular lunch time club. The school currently offers professional tuition in acoustic and electric guitars, woodwind, keyboard and violin and there is a reasonable charge for the lessons. Under the Hampshire Count y Council “Listen 2 Me“ scheme,  children in Years 3 to 5 experience a range of instruments such as the violin.

 

Dance is increasingly popular in school and Strictly School Dancing offer tuition in ballroom on Friday mornings before school. It is amazing how confident the children become in a very short time. The children love to put on displays to the rest of the school and it is fantastic to be able to incorporate a strong dance element along with the singing in school  productions.

 

Each year, the school holds a Speaking and Listening competition. Children are asked to compete with poetry and prose recitation for the Frank Mitchell trophy and it is always most entertaining to be a part of the audience.

 

The school regularly hosts theatre groups and many of these encourage the children to interact with the performers. In the past,children have worked with actors from The Watermill Theatre and their workshops culminated in two performances of “The Tempest” in which all children from the Reception class to Year 6 took part. More recently, the whole school attended a performance of " Beauty and the Beast" at The Anvil theatre.  Other events enjoyed by the children have included an artist in residence, a storyteller and an Indian dancer.

 

The school is very proud of its language provision. Latin and French are all offered as extra-curricular activities and are all well attended.

 

We are particularly proud of the children’s work in Art. Every term each child creates a picture on a common theme , for example “Light and dark” and a winner from each class is chosen and their work is mounted, framed and displayed in the main corridor. Attractive displays of children’s art work can be found throughout the school.

 

There are a myriad of opportunities for the children to be creative every day, whether it is writing poetry, delivering presentations, making animations, taking part in role play, drama and dance or cooking, to name but a few activities. We are always looking for new experiences for the children to be creative and we know that whatever the children take part in; they will embrace the activity with great enthusiasm.

At the Annual Awards ceremony, there is a prize in each year group from reception to Year 5 for achievement in the Arts. It is always difficult to select the winner due to the overall high standards.