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Creativity in education A string of successes in the performing and visual arts at St Mary’s School highlights the importance of creativity in education F rom inspiring music and drama to cutting-edge design and fine art, St Mary’s independent girls’ school alongside five or six other schools to design dinosaurs in relief, for a plinth. We are running it as an open competition for all students, not just our art scholarship girls.” Some of the girls are entering work
With small class sizes and a fine- art approach that focuses on conceptual thinking, the visual arts department is a thriving hub of creative expression within the school. “It’s about helping students to pursue their ideas further and figure out how they can bring their concepts into reality,” continues Lyndsey. “This requires a different level of thinking that they don’t necessarily experience in their English, maths or history lessons. It encourages the girls to be free, to be experimental and to play with materials in a safe space.”
nurtures confidence, self-expression and innovation at every level. “Creative and performing arts are an integral and important aspect of our education,” says Hannah Helliar, head of St Mary’s. “Our recent production of The Addams Family has been far more than just a spectacular performance – it has been an empowering and transformative experience for every girl involved. All the roles were played by our students, demonstrating the incredible talent, resilience and leadership that an all- female cast and crew can bring to the stage, developing not only their artistic abilities but also critical teamwork, problem-solving and technical skills.” A wide range of students across junior, senior and sixth form enjoy extracurricular music activities too. From choirs and orchestras to competition and stage performances, the success of the St Mary’s musical department has been highlighted by the recent auditions of two students for places in the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. In addition, its junior school choir recently won Choir of the Year in the Girls’ Schools Association (GSA) competition. Exploring potential The visual arts also offer students a chance to explore their creative potential. “We have our own dedicated studio space and a big summer exhibition, where all the students’ work goes up on the walls for the exam moderators that come in,” says Lyndsey Williams, head of the visual arts department. “Staff and parents come and visit too. It’s a wonderful celebration of the work and the pupils love it.” While most of the year is spent pursuing personal projects, building portfolios, preparing coursework and sketches, there is plenty of opportunity to enter competitions here as well. Four of the senior girls have had work accepted into the Paint What Matters! art competition with Kettle’s Yard, and the Grand Arcade’s forthcoming event, Jurassic Arcade, has offered pupils the chance to create dinosaurs for the show. “A dinosaur has been delivered that we’ll make our own,” explains Lyndsey. “Last time, we won the competition to paint a gigantic dinosaur egg. This year, we’ve been selected
into the Royal Academy of Arts summer show in London this year. “Additionally, we’ve just had an invitation for our sixth form girls to take part in the Michaelhouse Cafe exhibition with the Arts Society of Cambridge,” says Lyndsey. “Last year, one of our students submitted a drawing that won lots of commissions, and it has been turned into a postcard.”
EXPRESS YOURSELF With a strong emphasis on self-expression, students gain real-world experience in competitions and exhibitions
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