Creative Arts

The Creative Arts Department at St. Mark’s is a vibrant, stimulating and dynamic faculty that includes Drama, Art and Music. As a department we strive to develop and nurture the students as individuals allowing them the opportunity to achieve their full potential. We will foster each student’s unique talents to enhance their self-esteem and social skills, whilst developing their creativity, subject knowledge and specific techniques across the department. Every teacher will create a stimulating and safe environment where students will actively engage in the practical lessons developing key interpersonal skills and enabling the students to have the confidence to take risks and make mistakes.

Creative Arts is at the forefront of teaching and learning within the Academy allowing every student to make significant progress both academically and socially. The aim of the curriculum is to help young people become successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens and the Creative Arts department allows students to meet these objective through the practical tasks, group discussions and formative assessment that takes place every lesson. We embrace and value diversity and ensure the wide range of topics and themes studied are relevant and engaging across every year group.  

The faculty runs an extensive enrichment offer which enables students the opportunity to explore  disciplines across the Arts in addition to the curriculum topics taught such as; street dance, glee club, samba and house band. We are able to offer many ‘real life’ learning opportunities and educational visits including theatre trips, links with the BRIT school, workshops with professional actors, visiting art galleries, music concerts and film making projects.

Some student Quotes:

Creative Partnerships – film making project 2011

“I loved it! I feel this is something that I would like to do when I am older. It has been really cool.”

(Vinny Year 10)

‘WE Will ROCK YOU’ Musical Theatre Cast Workshop

“I loved it! I have never done anything like this before. I have done dancing, and I love singing, but it was a real challenge to do it together. It was really fast- but I worked hard and was able to get it in the end. It was a real achievement for me. I now really want to go and see the show as the music is really good. Gemma was lovely; she really taught us well and helped us make sure we got all the steps just right. I would love to do this again. Can we do it again?”

(Abigail Silas Year 10)

“BookFest film Making Project” - 2011

“I’ve learnt many new skills, team work and organisation. I have really enjoyed working with new people and making new friends. It has been a really enjoyable experience. I wish I could do it all over again!”

(Dujon - 2011)

39 Steps West end cast Workshop - Laura Rogers, the lead Actress from ‘The 39 Steps’ said:

“It was a real pleasure to meet the young people from St. Mark’s Academy. They were absolutely great, so enthusiastic and creative. I am sure I will see some of them in a few years performing on stage here themselves. I was very impressed with the standard of acting that I saw, and all of them were so polite and I thought the questions that they asked me were really thoughtful and original. I had a great afternoon working with them.”