Everyone at Sedgehill School is absolutely delighted to have gained
Specialist Status as a Performing Arts School, with Art, Drama and
Music as specialist subject areas.
The school applied to become a Performing Arts Specialist School
because they felt it would build on their strengths and strong tradition
of success in these subject areas and support their key aim of raising
achievement and attainment amongst all students at the school.
The walls of the school are bedecked with examples of the wonderful
Art work produced by students and everyone is very proud of the
wide range of different work completed, from pottery to 3D portraits.
Thanks to the many talented students the school environment has
become quite beautiful.
Over recent years there have also been some fantastic musicals
and dramas, with the 2005 production of 'Grease' set to be another
hit! There is a very strong Drama curriculum and examination results
are excellent at GCSE and A level. The school has vast and varied
links with theatre groups and professional actors, giving talented
students many different opportunities.
The school's fantastic Band has travelled far and wide over the
past 25 years and earlier this year played in Vancouver and Seattle
to thrilled audiences. Over 300 students at Sedgehill already have
individual instrumental lessons and there is a long tradition of
successful choirs, string and brass bands and an ever growing group
of talented singers and jazz/rock musicians.
The school has chosen to partner their Arts subjects with the Science
and Maths departments and one of the aims is to raise the achievement
and examination success of students in all of these subjects, by
developing and extending the Arts work.
Gaining Performing Arts Specialist Status will give the school
an amazing opportunity to develop and extend what they offer in
the curriculum, so that students can specialise in the Arts from
Year 7 if they have a particular talent or desire. There will also
be the opportunity to work closely with local Primary Schools on
Art, Drama and Music projects, to ensure that everyone benefits
from their new status. Primary School students and teachers will
be going into the school to work on joint projects - a really exciting
prospect for all involved. The new Specialist Status will also allow
the school to develop community projects and work with other secondary
schools on collaborative projects, ensuring the raising of achievement
and attainment of young people throughout Lewisham.
The school's bid was supported by two main sponsors; Sir John Cass's
Foundation and the Humphrey Richardson Taylor Charitable Trust,
without whom they could not have gained specialist status, and they
have also been tremendously fortunate in the enormous support given
by students, staff and families in helping them achieve their goal.
Sedgehill's first term as a Performing Arts School is now well
underway and has been greeted with a great deal of enthusiasm and
excitement. Projects have begun that are proving to be enjoyable
for students and the local community alike, introducing them to
new experiences and inspiring students to learn, ensuring that they
continue to progess and become an even more successful school.
