The school’s expressive arts lead teacher designs and delivers bespoke training for all staff. Training is tailor-made to represent the school’s individual needs. Training aims to challenge staff perceptions and to remove barriers to learning. Training delivered includes creativity, integral skills, high impact low-cost arts day, and using Garage Band. Staff are encouraged to explore various art techniques and apply these to planning engaging lessons for pupils.
Musical experiences for pupils include school music festivals where rock bands, acoustic musicians, local schools’ orchestras, and choirs are invited to perform on different stages, the school’s very own version of Glastonbury! In addition, pupils experience samba workshops, harpists, bands, guitarists, brass bands, and choir performances. Pupils have performed at the Wales Millennium Centre, opened at a Childrens’ Commissioner for Wales event at the All Nations Centre in Cardiff and performed with the cast of Les Misérables in the Queen`s Theatre London. Pupils have featured in musicals including ‘Pride Rock’, which was written by pupils. In addition, they selected the music, produced the costumes and scenery, and provided animations for the stampede scene. With support from staff and a dance student from Bristol University, pupils choreographed the dance routines. All senior school pupils took part as performers, filmmakers, or as part of the backstage crew.
In the summer term of 2022, new musical instruments were provided by Neath Port Talbot Music Services. Instruments have been used well in the classes, with all classes having their own set of boom whackers so pupils can start looking at musical notation (using the colours), coloured hand bells and glockenspiels. In addition, the school has untuned percussion, a samba set and an orchestrated sound beam. This has made music composition accessible for all pupils.
