Art, DT, Music & Drama
Art
DT
Music
Drama
Academic
Art
Any visitor to RGS Prep will immediately be struck by the variety and quality of art on display. Everyone who pauses to examine the works will be impressed by the individuality of character showcased by these displays.
The teaching and learning in this subject aims above all to stimulate an individual expressive response of the boys’ own ideas, values, and viewpoint.
Creative projects in clay, felt, papier maché, card, paint, chalk, pencil, collage and wire allow the boys to see their imaginations realised in physical form. The theme might be universal but experimentation is keenly encouraged.
The Art Department is among our most active in organising trips to exhibitions, galleries, and activity centres to ensure the boys gain the widest possible appreciation of what art means, and what it means to make it.
DT
Our DT programme fosters innovative thinking and aligns closely with the senior school’s GCSE and A-level pathway, equipping students with skills vital for future studies. Students are timetabled for a double lesson every week, which allows plenty of time to learn and get stuck in with practicals. Our specialist teachers present engaging, hands-on lessons that encourage the students to use both their creativity and technical skills for design solutions.
The workshop is equipped with advanced tools and machinery which, with careful instruction, students as young as 9 years old can explore. Through research and design, manufacturing, and evaluation, our carefully crafted projects encourage students to take calculated risks and follow the full DT process. The students also participate in non-construction projects including coding, computer-aided design (CAD), and computer-aided manufacture (CAM), all of which are important skills in the ever-increasing technological age.
Outside of timetabled lessons, we provide lunchtime DT drop-in sessions, internal workshops, field trips, House competitions, enrichment activities on the weekends, and opportunities to work with local girls’ schools.
Drama
All boys enjoy drama as a subject in its own right. Drama nourishes the imagination and nurtures spontaneity. Boys develop their understanding of the processes of dramatic playing, role-playing, improvising, process drama, play building, interpreting scripts, rehearsing and directing.
Drama also embodies inclusivity; every boy is given an opportunity to explore their own creative skills in their weekly drama lessons to the well-planned presentations and productions. Taught as a specialist subject, drama allows the boys to boys to experiment with their use of body language, facial expressions, use of the voice and to engage in a variety of drama skills giving shape to a polished performance. We also have our own performance space, lighting and sound desk, costumes and props store.
Music
Supported by a rich programme of training, ensembles, choirs, and orchestras, all led by specialist musicians, all our boys are encouraged to explore their musical potential.
They perform in an array of concerts, services, festivals, competitions and galas. Many routinely gain distinctions in the higher ABRSM Grades and join county and national groups. Our Maestro programme prepares our finest musicians for scholarship. RGS Prep is the choir school of Guildford Cathedral, with a long tradition of providing choristers for professional services throughout the year. Our choristers receive rigorous, first class musicianship training from the cathedral and many have gone on to become professional musicians.
Take a look at the booklet below which gives details of our music curriculum, instrumental music lessons, ensembles, bands and choirs and performance opportunities within our school.
