Creative Arts: Art, Drama and Music
“We love the way the children’s artwork is celebrated around the school and their genuine enthusiasm for lessons." Current parentThe Paragon's bespoke Art Studio is an Aladdin's Cave of treasures which has been created and curated by children over the years. Our Head of Art, Ms Alex Hucks is inspirational and ambitious, and all year groups from Squirrels to Year 6 benefit from specialist art lessons with her each week. The children will try their hand at drawing, painting, pottery, still life, sculpture, 3D design, printmaking collage and sewing during their time at the school. In 2018, a series of works created by Paragon Pupils and inspired by the artist Alfred Wallis was displayed in the National Gallery as part of their 'Take one Picture' initiative.
We study the work of artists, architects, designers and crafts from different cultures and times, observing differences and similarities and developing children’s critical appreciation. The artworks they study and create are put into context and contribute to a richer understanding of life. Local artists, craftspeople and illustrators are invited into school to talk about their work and what inspires them. We also visit local museums and galleries to study great works.
Output from our art lessons fills our walls, classrooms and grounds with vibrant life and colour and shows just how creative children can be with the right encouragement. We have exciting extra-curricular art activities for the children including pottery, drawing and sewing clubs and, in the holidays, we offer The Paragon Art School.
At The Paragon, art is enjoyed by all the children and our aim is to stimulate artistic creativity and imagination through visual, tactile and sensory experiences.
"Singing 'Believe' by Imagine Dragons at the Spring Concert was so exciting - I really didn't think that I would enjoy being in a choir." Member of SCHOOL choir
Throughout their musical journey at The Paragon School. pupils follow a bespoke curriculum that interweaves musicianship training with performing, creating and listening work. Children learn to use their voices, developing their confidence in singing with others and on their own and in singing in harmony. Within their curriculum lessons, all children will learn the recorder and ukulele in addition to taking part in our Strings (Year 3) and Woodwind programmes (Year 4). They will explore a wide selection of other instruments and experience performing as individuals and as part of an ensemble. They are immersed in music from different times and cultures, exploring and comparing it with music from their own lives. They love to compose; from a few notes to piano pieces, fanfares to Christmas carols; also learning to notate their compositions in a variety of ways.
Beyond the classroom, there are opportunities to learn a musical instrument with one of our visiting teachers. Instruments on offer include cello, violin, flute, clarinet, saxophone, recorder, cornet, trumpet, trombone, drum kit, guitar, bass guitar, piano and voice.
As part of our extra-curricular programme, we have four choirs which include Sing Out! (our community choir which is open to children and parents) and Joyful Noise, our award-winning Year 5 & 6 choir. Instrumentalists are catered for by a variety of music groups such as Brass, Wind and String groups, as well as our band ‘Paragon Goes Pop’ and full school Orchestra. We also have a number of ensembles that are open to all including our two Samba Bands and African Drumming group. Additional opportunities are set up to meet the needs and interests of the pupils and the children are encouraged to form their own small ensembles.
There are many performance opportunities open to the children; annual school stage productions, tea-time and lunchtime concerts, visits to other community settings, busking for charity or taking part in school concerts (planned and impromptu!). We are proud to report that each year the school enjoys individual and group success in the locally renowned Mid-Somerset Festival. We take advantage of opportunities provided by outside facilitators, whether that be to give the opportunity for the children to see and hear live music, or to take part in workshops and performances. We have strong links with the Music Department at Prior Park College with whom we hold joint concerts and events, in addition to enjoying regular visits from their students who come to perform to our children.
Click here to apply for music tuition: Music Tuition Application Form
"Performing 'Rock Bottom' with my friends at the Julian Slade Theatre was my favourite moment at The Paragon. I will never forget it." Year 6 pupilEvery Paragon pupil has the opportunity to shine, from our Pre-Prep pupils who perform in a Nativity play each year, through musical theatre performances in the lower Prep school years, to the Year 6 two-act musical which is held annually in the Julian Slade Theatre at Prior Park College.
Through participation in productions, pupils understand commitment, patience, empathy, teamwork, and ultimately success and pride as they entertain and learn. As they progress, the children can choose to entertain the audiences on stage or opt to become involved back stage directing the lighting, organising the props or overseeing the sound.
The pupils work through many different aspects of drama, such as improvisation and role-play; they also apply these skills to current issues or topics from other lessons. It is a powerful means of educating pupils in an energetic and creative way, allowing each and every child to thrive in an environment which is enormous fun. In other year groups, drama goes hand in hand with English as the children learn to express themselves with confidence and conviction.
Extracurricular drama is also popular and provides the opportunity for pupils to take LAMDA exams with group or individual performances.
