The importance of creativity in extra-curricular opportunities

Mary Fowell, Director of Marketing and Admissions at Manor House School, on the growing demand for creative and expressive curricular enrichment opportunities...

Founded in 1920, and soon to be celebrating its Centenary Year, Manor House School in Bookham is known for providing girls with a happy and nurturing smaller school environment, encouraging excellent academic results. One of the school’s seven core values is ‘Creative and Collaborative’ and it is no surprise that Manor House was shortlisted for an Independent Schools Award in the Creative and Expressive Arts in 2018. As well as a wealth of sports clubs fostering high levels of participation and performance, music, singing and drama clubs are a popular choice with students and there is also increasing demand for creative and expressive curricular enrichment opportunities.

One such creative example that has seen significant growth in recent years is the provision of LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) lessons which are taught as a co-curricular option and offered from Year 1 all the way up to Year 11. Over one third of pupils at Manor House now choose to take LAMDA. Examinations take place every year in the Spring term but LAMDA isn’t just about results, it’s about the girls gaining confidence in themselves to perform in front of others, working with their peers, improving their speaking and listening skills and learning about poetry and a variety of playwrights. The seven reasons for studying LAMDA include:

1. Reading fluently with understanding

2. Improving confidence in speaking and listening

3. Improving self-expression by expanding vocabulary

4. Memorising and recalling information

5. Delivering formal presentations

6. Working successfully alone and in a team

7. Creating and defending arguments

Sometimes the quietest and shyest of girls take LAMDA and really blossom over the year. For one pupil it can be finding the confidence to read aloud in class and be heard, and for another it can help to improve public speaking or interview skills.

Manor House runs an extensive extra-curricular clubs programme every term with up to 50 clubs and activities operating at any one time across all year groups before, during and after school. The ability to ‘try something new’ without pressure encourages girls to seek out new experiences, develop new interests and in turn build confidence, whilst making new friends. There is of course the added benefit of improving an existing skill or simply having sheer fun!

The ‘creative clubs’ on offer don’t just stop at the subjects of Art, Music or Drama though. Opportunities are varied and include groups such as: Textiles Craft Club (learning new techniques in modern day textiles), a ‘Gifted and Talented’ Writing Club (a creative writing club which challenges girls to compose high quality writing on a competitive basis) and Bridge (teaching pupils social skills as well as offering a mental workout stimulating both halves of the brain in equal measure). Playing bridge uses and develops visualization, logical thinking, inferential analysis, problem solving skills, sequencing, lateral thinking, long and short-term memory and observation. Bridge is already on the national curriculum in some enlightened countries such as China and Poland. There is a photography club and even a Creative Media Club, where girls can learn how to make and change webpages, games and images.

There are, of course, the more traditional clubs on offer including Drama Clubs, Prep and Senior Bands, Music Theory Club and Junior and Senior Orchestral Clubs where the ability to perform and/or ‘act out’ in front of peers and audiences increase self-confidence, self-esteem and communication skills.

Additional music lessons are delivered throughout the school day in the facility of Meadow Cottage. We offer tuition in over 18 instruments encouraging participation in school productions and the annual ‘Rock & Pop Concert’.

Art is taught across the School from Reception age to Year 11. Girls are encouraged to work in a variety of materials including paint, pencil, textiles, collage, clay, print-making, plaster and wire. Many of them choose to work big and the department prides itself on allowing the girls to pursue their own strengths and enthusiasms, resulting in stimulating and diverse work at GCSE level. There are four Art clubs – two for Preps, one for Seniors and one for GCSE students.

A popular senior scholarships programme awards scholarships in Art, Drama and Music (in addition to Sport) effective at Year 7 and most recently, new Year 3 scholarships, for Academic and Music, have been announced. These are effective from September 2020 (apply by mid-November 2019). To enquire, contact admissions@manorhouseschool.org or visit www.manorhouseschool.org. Following an open morning in October 2019, further open mornings will take place in February and May 2020.

This article first appeared in the 2020 edition of Which School. You can read the e-guide here: