Creative Subjects
The Gregg School creative departments covers Music, Drama, Art, 3D Design and Food and Nutrition. These form a successful and much enjoyed area of the curriculum and we are pleased to offer seven creative GCSE options across the subjects.
Our students have the chance to get involved with school productions, music ensembles, creative House competitions: music, drama, bake-off, photography, art and dance and to join our many lunchtime and after-school creative co-curricular clubs.
Fine Art, Textiles and Photography
The Art Department aims to provide a varied and stimulating curriculum at Key Stage 3. Students have the opportunity to try out new media, refine their drawing skills and gain exposure to new techniques and processes. In Art lessons, Year 7-9 students will cover drawing and painting, printmaking, mixed media and critical studies. Having explored these areas our students are equipped with the knowledge and flexibility at GCSE to work with their strengths and achieve their potential.
In Year 10 and 11, students have the opportunity to study one or more of our Arts GCSEs: Art, Textiles or Photography. These are popular subject areas and our students at KS4 achieve high standards and excellent GCSE results. Students are encouraged to explore their own chosen themes and to develop highly personal responses in the coursework and exam projects. Students regularly win prizes at the ISA Schools National Art Competition.
Music
During Year 7 our students learn the fundamentals of reading, composing, playing and appreciating music. Students learn how to become confident performers on the keyboard and other classroom instruments. Those who play their own instruments are encouraged to use them in the classroom. Students are taught how to listen to and appreciate different styles of music as we explore elements of music, keyboard skills, music for adverts and samba.
In Year 8 students further improve their listening, composing, and performing skills through studying other topics including the History of Western Classical Music (Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods), Reggae, Game Music, and guitar skills.
In Year 9, Music further polishes the skills learned in Year 8 and is an excellent grounding for the GCSE course. Topics covered include Music for Film, Jazz and Blues, and Songwriting.
In Years 10 and 11, students can elect to take Music GCSE and the two-year course follows the Eduqas specification for GCSE Music.
Students are encouraged to join one of our many lunchtime music clubs such as Choir, Rock Band, String Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Orchestra, Flute Choir or Jazz Band and we offer a wide range of individual musical instrument tuition.
We also produce an annual school musical, where students are able to be involved in all aspects of the production including cast, crew, and band.
Students are able to join a wide range of groups and ensembles:
- Orchestra
- Choir
- Flute Choir
- String Ensemble
- Guitar Ensemble
- Jazz Band
- Rock Band
The ensembles rehearse at lunchtimes throughout the year, in preparation for various concerts and events such as the Winter Concert, Carol Service, and Summer Concert. All groups are open to students of any ability.
Drama
Creativity, imagination and experimentation are central to Drama at The Gregg. Creating an environment where students think outside the box, make mistakes, have a voice and feel valued is essential. We take pride in the fact that we have created an environment where students feel safe and inspired, and we have seen amazing results as a consequence.
The Gregg School is very proud of its long tradition of Drama and the Arts and has over many years produced successful stage productions, musicals, Christmas and end of year shows, as well as a myriad of classical and contemporary plays.
We believe that at the very heart of any effective teaching is the ability to build strong relationships with our students, and very importantly, to have great fun while doing so. It is not enough to simply teach students... they need to be consistently inspired, encouraged and challenged. Every child is unique and should be proud of who they are and drama at The Gregg will help develop this through a topical, varied curriculum and an interpersonal approach that promotes individuality, self-belief, team work, experimentation, and of course a love of the Arts.
KS3 - GCSE Drama takes place in the Atrium of The HART building, a beautiful modern space, set within the stunning woodland that surrounds the school. It is a place that provides students with a safe, stimulating and creative environment where they can really begin to find out who they are.
Food and Nutrition
Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 enjoy their fortnightly double Food and Nutrition lessons. Students are encouraged to become confident working with food and learn basic food skills, processes and safety procedures whilst working with a range of ingredients and food preparation equipment. As a department, we encourage the use of fresh, seasonal and local produce and encourage students to be diverse in their cooking. Our cooking after school club is also extremely popular and students enjoy taking home their freshly made treats.
Our Food and Nutrition GCSE is a popular option for Years 10 and 11.
