At Bassett House School, children are encouraged to think and behave like real artists and designers. Bassett children critique their own work and that of their peers from Form 1 onwards, giving them the confidence to try different approaches and techniques and to strive for continual improvement.
We theme art lessons, making different cultural and historical connections, as well as looking at contemporary references. We work in a variety of media, including stop-motion animation and green-screen film work.
We celebrate the artistic and cultural riches on our doorstep by taking trips to London galleries, holding a Royal Academy life drawing workshop for our older children and visiting local professional art studios. Each week one child’s effort is recognised by our Artist of the Week award and we celebrate the whole school’s creativity in our Annual Art Week Showcase. We are very proud that our alumni have won art scholarships to prestigious senior schools.
We consider every child to be a performer
Similarly, we consider every child to be a performer. We encourage performance in music and drama for the self-expression it gives our pupils, to promote teamwork, as a means of building confidence and to cultivate public speaking, singing and instrumental skills. We aim to recognise each pupil’s strengths and talents and to develop these to their fullest potential.
All our pupils perform. Whether in class assemblies, nativity plays, whole-year theatre productions, our Harvest Festival and Christmas carol service, young musicians’ assemblies, orchestra, choirs, instrument ensembles, Eurhythmics dance movement lessons, or even carolling for tourists on the Portobello Road (in aid of charity). The emphasis is on participation, not perfection.
We study music in the curriculum through movement, composition, Drama, dance and improvisation and look to engender a lifelong love of music through exposure to a breadth of musical genres. We also offer drama and performing arts clubs.
