Expressive Arts
Expressive Arts play a vital role in the life of the School. Aside from bringing enjoyment and fostering numerous transferable skills, the ability to think and express creatively is ever more fundamental to a whole range of career paths.
At Ibstock we offer a wide variety of inclusive and exclusive opportunities to allow every pupil, regardless of age or ability, to discover and develop their creative talent or passion.
There is a full programme of termly concerts, shows, and productions, in addition to many low-stakes, day-to-day performance opportunities.
MusicPupils who may not come from a musical background will likely find something that speaks to and inspires them. Whether it’s Classical Musician of the Year, Rock and Pop or top-class musical theatre, all receive equal emphasis and recognition.
Our musicians are encouraged to practice their performance skills just as much as their instruments and voices. We provide many opportunities to take to the stage and gain experience in performing in front of an audience. Platforms range from assemblies, teatime concerts, evensongs and services for our chorister programme, autumn and summer concerts and special events like the carol service and prize giving. Highlights in the musical calendar include international tours, our entirely pupil-led House Music Competition, Classical Musician of the Year, the ever eclectic Performers Platform, Liederabend (annual celebration of languages and song) as well as Dance and Drama collaborations, most recently for We Will Rock You and Imaginary. |
In addition to our Ballroom and state-of-the-art Theatre, the School boasts 3 well-appointed classrooms with specialist recording equipment and twelve practice rooms including our unique Armadilla Pods.See the latest music calendar below.
MUSIC CALENDAR SUMMER TERM 2024
| Music Ensembles | |||
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There are numerous ensembles at School, including: Rock Bands, African Drumming / Samba Group, The Big Sing (Show Choir), Ibstock Choristers, Woodwind Ensembles, Music Technology Club, Wind Band, Street Band, Ukulele/Singer Songwriter Group, String Orchestra and String Quartets and Trios. Ensemble players have regular opportunities to perform, such as at termly concerts, School competitions, Assemblies and PTA events, including the popular May Fair. |
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| Music Clubs | |||
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| Individual Music Lessons | |||
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The benefits of learning a musical instrument are well documented. There has been much research to show that music lessons have a disproportionately positive impact on academic attainment. Several hundred pupils take instrumental lessons on a large selection of instruments, including Violin, viola, cello, double-bass, harp, flute, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, oboe, recorder, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, guitar, bass guitar, piano, jazz piano, percussion and voice. We also offer both classical and contemporary singing lessons. We enter pupils termly for ABRSM and Trinity graded music examinations termly and pupils can also be entered for Rock School and LCME qualifications. |
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| Music Tours and Trips | |||
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This year the Ibstock Place Singers will be heading off to Umbria but in recent years they have enjoyed successful tours Umbria, Malta and Prague. Schola Cantorum and the Ibstock chorister have also sung services recently at the following venues: St Paul’s Cathedral, Chichester Cathedral, St Alban’s Cathedral and more locally, at Holy Trinity Roehampton and St Michael & All Angels in Barnes. There are also regular trips for Music Scholars to London’s top orchestral venues. In September 2024, as part of Ibstock’s 130th Anniversary celebrations, the school’s top ensembles will perform at a large-scale concert at the prestigious St John’s, Smith Square. |
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| The Berkley Ensemble, Ibstock Ensemble in Residence | |||
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Hailed as ‘an instinctive collective’ (The Strad), the Berkeley Ensemble was formed in 2008 by members of Southbank Sinfonia, Britain’s young professional orchestra, with the aim of exploring the wealth of little-known twentieth- and twenty-first century British chamber music alongside more established repertoire. It now enjoys a busy concert schedule performing throughout the UK and abroad and is also much in demand for its inspiring work in education. We are delighted that the Berkeley Ensemble’s association with Ibstock Place School includes:
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| Music Partnerships | |||
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We collaborate with Wandsworth Music Hub and regularly host music examinations for external candidates. National Youth Music Theatre has also used our facilities as rehearsal spaces. Masterclasses have also taken place at Ibstock as part of Barnes Music Festival. We run an annual singing day in the Summer Term for pupils from local primary school. Ibstock musicians also regularly perform to groups and in venues in our local community including:
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Drama
The Drama Department organises a tremendous range of activities and opportunities.
In a typical calendar year we host Lower and Upper Senior productions, a Senior 10 production, an annual Theatre Company production (for Drama Scholars), termly LAMDA showcases, and a House Drama competition which sees pupils write, produce, and perform their own plays.
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'We offer outstanding opportunities for pupils, whether centre stage or behind the scenes.' |
Recent productions have included Romeo and Juliet (branded ‘a triumph’ by the Tatler Good Schools Guide) Alice,and a mammoth production of Annie with a cast of 120. Calendar year 2022/23 saw sell-out productions of We Will Rock You (Upper Senior Production) and Imaginary (Lower Senior Production). Ibstock pupils regularly take up places as members of the National Youth Theatre and National Youth Music Theatre, and many past pupils have gone on to train at leading Drama schools such as RADA, LAMDA, Mountview, Rose Bruford, and secured careers in Theatre and film.
| Drama Workshops |
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To enrich the GCSE and A Level course, we invite practitioners in to run specific workshops. We have been lucky to learn directly from Frantic Assembly, the Stanislavski Experience and Paper Birds. Previous visitors have been Matt Henry (Laurence Olivier Award Winner and OBE), Michael Oakley (Theatre Director) Nicola Sanderson (Actor) and Ben Westerby (Actor and Ibstock Alumni). |
| Drama Trips |
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Trips are arranged throughout the year to a range of theatres in Richmond, Hammersmith, Kingston and the West End to enable our pupils to see a range of spaces and styles. Previous productions include: The Woman in Black, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Play that Goes Wrong, Metamorphosis, Othello, As You Like It, Medea, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Witness for the Prosecution and Little Big Things. |
| London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) |
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LAMDA lessons and examinations are exceptionally popular across the entire pupil body with stellar results to match. As the oldest and one of the most prestigious drama schools in the country, we are incredibly proud of the large number of pupils from Prep 3 upwards, who take classes with our specialist teachers. |
Facilities
Our magnificent main theatre comprises a stage, auditorium, and gallery with seating for up to 250.
Facilities include an orchestra pit, extensive foyer areas, green room and dressing rooms. With two further studio theatres and two full-time theatre technicians, we offer outstanding opportunities for pupils, whether centre stage or behind the scenes.
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In the most recent examinations 86% of pupils achieved distinctions. |
All examinations support pupils to develop a broad range of skills and knowledge, not only in performance but also speaking in public, development of language skills, appreciation of literature and working as part of a team.
Dance
Dance is very popular, with an increasing number of styles on offer and lessons run by specialist teachers.
A highlight of the annual Dance calendar is our whole school Dance Show. This year’s show ‘Awakening’, was a chance to showcase a variety of dance techniques and choreography, bringing all ages together.
In addition to co-curricular lessons, pupils enjoy workshops from visiting companies such as the National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) and trips.
We offer a wide range of co-curricular classes for all year groups after school on Monday to Thursday each week.
We have recently introduced regular classes in preparation for Rambert Grades and also launched Ibstock Musical Theatre, a weekly class involving a carousel of dance, singing, and acting sessions with specialist instructors.
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Art
In our dedicated School of Art and Design building pupils enjoy a broad curriculum that enables them to explore and develop a diverse range of skills, spanning painting, drawing, and sculpture to printmaking and working with clay.
Visiting artists are regularly invited to share unusual approaches and techniques. Pupils also benefit from visits to world leading London art galleries and museums as well as attending talks by internationally renowned contemporary artists such as Grayson Perry or Cornelia Parker. Art is ever popular at GCSE and A level, with impressive results at both levels.
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