The Arts

Music is very strong throughout the school and all pupils receive class music lessons from Reception to the end of Year 8, after which it becomes an optional subject. All pupils are encouraged to engage with music and the practical music making experience within the classroom encourages many of our pupils to take individual lessons in one or more instruments and continue their musical studies at Key Stage 4 and 5. Extra lessons are offered by our excellent team of peripatetic music teachers in all string, woodwind and brass instruments, both pitched and unpitched percussion as well as piano, voice and guitar. Pupils are supported in this by free tuition in theory up to grade five as well as aural training from grades 1-8. 

Many former pupils have developed careers as opera singers, professional conductors and accompanists, university lecturers and teachers of music, but irrespective of whether they follow a career in music or remain a keen amateur, the friendly homely atmosphere of Oxford Lodge is loved by all our musicians and remembered with fondness many years after having left the school.

Drama is very popular at Ryde with all Year 7 and 8 pupils having timetabled drama lessons and opting for the subject from Year 9 onwards, before beginning their GCSE course. Years 7 and 8 work with Year 9 to create a Junior production each year. Other performance opportunities across the School include the Autumn Production, Summer Musical, House Drama Competition, Summer Arts Festival and Short Film Competition. All pupils have the chance to perform or help backstage or with the scenery and lighting, allowing everyone the chance to get involved.

LAMDA lessons are available to all pupils. Theatre trips, professional theatre companies and workshop leaders in school, live streaming of plays (National Theatre, West End etc.) help pupils to gain a real understanding of professional and amateur productions and enhance their own performance.

The Art department at Ryde School aims to create an environment that not only encourages every pupil’s creative abilities, but also gives them the confidence to express themselves, through appropriately structured schemes of work across all the key stages. Pupils achieve considerable success, across a range of specialisms.

Teaching is focused on developing artistic skills across a variety of media enabling every pupil to achieve real success in some form of visual expression. This is fundamentally supported by the teaching of creative exploration through trial and error. Pupils explore their ideas, through research into contemporary and historical art references. Pupils are able to take advantage of various extra opportunities throughout the year to support their development in art. Annual trips to various galleries nationally, real-life design briefs from local companies, artist lectures and workshops, art competitions, university visits and workshops.