The Arts
York House
Contact

The Arts

Contact
York House

The Arts at York House includes Music, Dance, Art and Drama. These creative subjects are an anchor point in an innovative, rigorous and robust curriculum. The opportunity to experience these subjects in an authentic and meaningful way is essential to us at York House and as important as our STEM, Sports and Languages.

Music

Music is taught in a weekly lesson by a specialist teacher to all pupils throughout the school. Children in Pre-Prep participate in regular performances whilst in Year 2 they learn the violin for a term. The Lower School also take part in the instrumental Carousel Project, where they try a string, a woodwind and a brass instrument. This acts as a further introduction to learning an instrument. 

Many children have lessons with our peripatetic teachers in the newly-built Music Department. There is an Orchestra, Percussion and Guitar ensemble, three Choirs, a Samba band, a Rock band and Recorder, Ukulele and Music Theory clubs. 

Dance

Dance is taught within the PE curriculum. Ballet, Tap, Ballroom and Cheerleading are after school clubs.

Children that take Ballet and Tap follow recognised exam board syllabi and take Exams as appropriate with our links with local dance schools such as The Croxley School of Dance.

Art

Art is taught by a specialist Art teacher from Year 5 onwards and by class teachers in the younger years. The children gain experience across a wide range of creative media and are taught with high quality instruction; sparking a passion for the subject which can be lifelong. 

Drama

Drama is also taught weekly from Year One, with younger pupils enjoying Drama within their curriculum. Explicit Drama lessons focus on learning, refining, and understanding the core skills of theatre studies alongside building and promoting confidence through improvisation and performance. 

We believe in creating opportunities to showcase children’s work in an encouraging and supportive fashion.

This celebrates children’s achievement and families are invited to come and watch. Performances can be formal such as the annual Upper School play, Year 1 Nativity or end of Year 2 play or more informal such as the termly music concert, displays of artwork or an informal music concert.