On March 2nd, we took some of our year 8 and 9 students on an Art and Drama combined trip to give them some insight into the wider world of art galleries, installations and musical performances/live theatre. This was to get students ready for GCSE Art and Drama, and the visits that they will be taking part in during their year 10 and 11 experience at Thames Park.

At the Tate Modern, students explored the different art installations, video works and paintings throughout the galleries and completed an interactive worksheet where they had to find certain pieces that Mrs McNally had created for them. This was to engage the students in similar work to what they would be doing at GCSE, to be able to critically analyse and evaluate the pieces and recreate some themselves as well. Students thoroughly enjoyed exploring the Tate Modern as they returned to the main hall ready to move onto the next part of the trip.

Students were incredible when walking from the Tate Modern to Covent Garden where we sat and watched the fire juggling street performers. This was a form of live theatre entertainment without them even realising as they were completely engrossed in the man's talent. We then moved onto the Adelphi theatre where we would be watching 'Back to the future the Musical', all students behaviour was impeccible and they all got onto the coach with excitement when speaking about all of the special effects that were used within the show. They were able to identify key techniques that we have been using in drama, within the performance and it seemed to have gotten their creative minds working since we have seen them back in the drama studio! 

We will be aiming to offer this trip every year to our year 8 and 9 students who are interested in Art and/or Drama as GCSE options, to ensure that those with a passion for those subjects get to experience it beyond the classroom as well.