Contact Information

Mrs L Lewis on lewisl2@denbigh.net	Mr D Wilkie on wilkied@denbigh.net
Mrs L Clegg on cleggl@denbigh.net	Mr M Stroud on stroudm@denbigh.net
Mr M Jackson on jacksonm@denbigh.net	Miss C O’Rourke on orourkec@denbigh.net
Miss E Tattam on tattame@denbigh.net	Mrs G Brunings on bruningsg@denbigh.net

Faculty Information

The Creative Arts Faculty is a hive of energy and imagination, and our committed team of staff offer inclusive opportunities for all students to engage in creative pursuits both inside and outside of lessons.

We are fortunate to have exceptional facilities. We have three open-plan art rooms complete with a dedicated Sixth Form area. We also have a purpose-built ‘Meeting Hall’ which is split into two spaces, with a moveable partition. We use both spaces as drama classrooms, with a range of impressive audio-visual equipment and storage space. We have two music classrooms, one of which includes bi-fold doors leading to an outdoor performance space, ‘the amphitheatre’ where audiences can watch our break time concerts. We also have a dedicated Music Technology room with a suite of computers with digital audio workstations. We have an instrument storage space and three music practice rooms primarily used by peripatetic teachers during the school day.

We feel very strongly that our extra-curricular opportunities should be inclusive and are there for all members of our Denbigh community, regardless of whether they have opted to study Creative Arts subjects at examination level. We regularly refresh our offers and encourage students to set up their own clubs and rehearsals. A few examples of our regular clubs are Theatre Studies rehearsal, Improvisation Art, Band Development, Orchestra and a singing group.

The Faculty also presents larger productions. In the last few years, the school has offered a rich and varied programme of performances, showcasing the creativity and dedication of its students. Recent productions have included ‘Saba’s Swim‘, as part of the National Theatre’s ‘Connections’ Programme, ‘Labels and Limelight’ and our annual Talent Show each highlighting the talent and confidence of young performers. Alongside these theatrical pieces, the School has hosted Music Soirées, providing a platform for instrumentalists and vocalists to share their skills in an intimate setting. Our recent ‘Summer Showcase’ has brought together a diverse range of performances, from LAMDA pieces to Drama examination work, as well as classwork from KS3 through to KS5, ensuring that students across all year groups have the opportunity to shine. Collectively, these events have not only celebrated the students’ artistic achievements but also reflected the School’s commitment to fostering a vibrant and inclusive Performing Arts culture.

The Creative Arts Faculty at Denbigh is a bustling environment where you will find students rehearsing and working outside of classroom hours regularly and you will find staff committed to realising students’ potential in their creative endeavours.

Art

Art is all around you. From the moment you pick up your smartphone and see a wallpaper image on your screen of a decorative pattern, a character design, a painting by a famous artist, a photograph you have taken, you are bombarded with the formal elements of art. The wallpaper (or coloured paint) on the walls, the statue in the front room, the poster on the side of the bus. Prevalent throughout history, Art is seen in ways many people cannot imagine. Cultures use mud to create masks; artists paint a gigantic apple squeezed into a tiny room; an everyday soup can, or bottle of coke can be called Art.

Students who study Fine Art at Denbigh follow the AQA A-Level Art and Design – Fine Art specification.  The first project based on the Built Environment, is a way to develop a higher appreciation, understanding and exploration of drawing, media, technique and material use. This development and refinement of key skills is then taken into a personal project that is an investigation into a theme of your choice.  Previous examples have included horror, the body, nature and architecture, the music of the 60s, comics, the female figure, pain, and rap to name but a few.  In class you are supported to look at different artists, styles of art and ways of presenting your chosen theme, exploring what you think creative presentation really is.  The process of creating art, the reflection on and refinement of work remains paramount throughout.  The new dedicated Sixth Form art room offers you the opportunity to spread out, be creative around your peers and be surrounded by elements of art appropriate to KS5.  It is your room, so we have high expectations for its use to provide a supportive and encouraging environment to progress. There is an expectation that you come to the art rooms during some of your free sessions each week to continue development of coursework. 

Music

Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. The high-quality music education at Denbigh engages and inspires pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement.

Students who study Music will follow Edexcel A-Level Music and will explore six areas of study including – Vocal Music, Instrumental Music, Music for Film, Popular Music and Jazz, Fusions, and New Directions. For each area of study, students will investigate three sets of music.

Music Technology

Music Technology is the study of creating music using technology.  This subject explores music production software and equipment, musical styles, the history and development of technology and the principles and practices of Music Technology.  Modern music and media rely on the effective use of Music Technology which makes the subject both exciting and rewarding to study.

Our students follow the Edexcel A-Level Music Technology course which covers a broad range of knowledge and skills and is the perfect steppingstone for students who wish to continue to study Music Technology into further education.

Theatre Studies

Theatre Studies at Denbigh offers students an inspiring and challenging exploration of performance, analysis and theatrical practice, building on their passion for Drama and developing advanced skills for both the stage and beyond. Students study a wide range of influential texts, including ‘The Caucasian Chalk Circle‘, ‘Our Country’s Good‘ and ‘Metamorphosis‘, each chosen to stretch their creativity, critical thinking and performance technique. Through practical workshops, written analysis and live performance, students gain a deep understanding of how Theatre communicates powerful ideas and emotions, while also developing invaluable skills in collaboration, resilience and independent thought. The course encourages them to push boundaries, experiment with style and form, and engage critically with social, cultural and historical contexts. More than just preparation for examinations, A Level Theatre Studies nurtures confident, articulate and imaginative individuals, equipping them with the transferable skills and cultural awareness that will support their success at university, in the workplace and in life.

Schemes of Learning

Each faculty has developed a two-year Scheme of Learning for each subject. The Schemes of Learning outline the curriculum journey that students will embark on during each academic year.

Art

Drama

Music

Music Tech

Faculty Assessment and Feedback Policy

Please find a copy of the Faculty Assessment and Feedback policy below. Teachers in the faculty subject areas will follow this policy when assessing students learning and providing feedback.