The arts

Developing musical talents and appreciation 

Music is part of the rich heritage of Queen’s. We embrace not just learning an instrument but also learning to perform.

Girls are encouraged to try new instruments and techniques but we also try to develop their confidence to enable them to showcase their skills to the best of their ability.

The focus of attention in Key Stage 1 is singing, percussion instruments and general musicality. In Key Stage 2 all girls learn at least the basics of three musical instruments as part of the curriculum. In Year 3 they learn the recorder, in Year 4 the violin and in Year 6 the ukulele.

Many girls choose to study additional instruments as well. At the moment we have girls studying for piano, saxophone, flute, violin and clarinet in Year 4, and girls learning the piano, flute, guitar, saxophone, drums, violin, viola, clarinet, recorder, cello and harp in Years 5 and 6.

Girls make excellent progress through their grades and we currently have several girls playing at Grade 3 standard or above with groups taking part in Junior Strings and a lunchtime flute group.

Our Infant 'Songbirds' choir provides great training for our Junior Choir 'Queen's Young Voices' which in 2015 reached the final of the BBC Songs of Praise Junior Choir of the Year Competition

Lower School Music

Developing drama talents and appreciation 

Every girl has the opportunity to embrace this aspect of the curriculum. All pupils have a drama lesson once a week, and they all take part in a production once a year. Our girls are encouraged to allow their natural joy of performing to shine through, and it is heart-warming to see how they take on these opportunities with courage and confidence. Year 3 and 4 stage a performance in the Autumn Term and  Reception, Year 1 and 2 stage a traditional Nativity at Christmas. In the Summer Term, Year 5 and 6 take their production to the Senior School stage, and this is an ideal transition opportunity for girls to experience what life is like for the older girls in this setting.

All girls from Year 2 to Year 6 are offered the opportunity to participate in Speech and Drama lessons with a Lamada affiliation. These lessons incur an additional charge.

In addition, pupils are given the opportunity to appreciate the arts through their visits to see Storyhouse productions, as well as theatre trips further afield. Our Year 6s have an overnight stay in Stratford in the Spring Term, and a trip to the RSC to watch a theatre production is part of the experience. In addition to this, an opportunity to be involved in a drama workshop with an RSC professional is tremendously inspiring. 

Wonderland