Creative and performing arts

Drama

We offer a vibrant drama and performing arts programme. As well as timetabled drama lessons, girls can take LAMDA classes and each year group also rehearses and performs a play or musical at some point throughout the academic year.

We have dedicated drama studios at Spencer House and all girls use our performing arts space at Wilberforce House, which has a professional theatrical set up with lighting and sound, a stage and tiered seating.

Our professional productions showcase an incredible amount of acting and musical ability. Over the past few years Study girls have performed School of Rock, The Snowman, Legally Blonde, Honk Jnr and Matilda.

“The Performing Arts department at The Study is exceptional. The drive, energy and dedication of the teaching team is endless. From Reception, teachers begin to instil confidence in the girls and they’re provided with endless opportunities to participate in group shows, auditioned performances, musicals and orchestral recitals. ”
Year 5 parent

“I was backstage for Matilda and I enjoyed it very much. My role was to do follow spot and I learnt a lot of new things and a new skill. I would definitely recommend it to younger years because if you get stage fright then you can still be involved, even if you are not in the spotlight.”
Annabel, Year 6

Study shows

The Rainmaker

Matilda Jnr.

Kids in Space

Legally Blonde

Honk Jnr.

Reception's Nativity

Music

Above all, we want our girls to enjoy the fun of creating and performing music. Pupils get involved in music from Reception, where we offer two classroom music lessons a week with our Head of Music.

We have orchestras, choirs, ensembles and a wide range of performance opportunities open to Study girls. Our aim is to ensure that every girl has the chance to get involved in music, no matter what her level of ability. Musical performance is very much a part of daily school life.

Musical pursuits

Carol singing at local care home

Vanessa's Violins perform at Richmond Music Festival

Music event at Epsom College

Harvest festival service at Sacred Heart Church

Tea Time Music Recital at Spencer House

Music festival at St John's Leatherhead

Individual music lessons

In addition to class music, we have 10 peripatetic music teachers who offer our girls the chance to learn an astounding range of musical instruments, from piano and violin to the oboe and harp.

Lessons mostly take place during the school day. Girls are taken out of non-core curriculum lessons and break times. There are also a limited number of Peripatetic lessons delivered before and after school. We encourage parents to be as involved as possible with their daughters’ music tuition.

Meet the peripatetic team

“Although many of our girls leave us at 11+ as accomplished musicians, our focus is primarily that they enjoy music making and achieve their best, while having fun!”
Mrs Brown, Head of Music

“I credit The Study with discovering and nurturing our daughter’s love for music.”
Year 6 parent

A hub of creativity

specialist teachers who are experts in the fields of drama, music, dance and art

10%

percent of our timetable is dedicated to the creative arts

senior school creative arts scholarships offered in the last three years

Dance

Girls in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 all take part in weekly ballet lessons, run by specialist teachers who teach the Royal Academy of Dance curriculum up to Grade 1. Ballet encourages good posture and builds confidence; we believe it helps our girls learn to stand tall with their heads held high.

From Year 3 onwards our girls get lots of opportunities to take part in co-curricular dance clubs, including Creative Dance, Acro Dance and Musical Theatre Dance. Creative Dance includes a wide variety of styles, including Jazz, Street Dance, Ballroom and Lyrical.

Study girls holding their entries to The Royal College of Art Competition

Art

Our teachers are nothing if not creative when it comes to art! In the early years at Wilberforce House, art is taught through our Creative Curriculum. Reception class paint their own watercolour family portraits when learning about themselves and Year 1 recently recreated Hokusai’s iconic Great Wave of Kanagawa entirely out of textiles in the school hall.

Our bright and airy art studio at Spencer House allows girls to try their hand at every kind of art technique. We develop technical skills, from fine art to sculpture and printing to textiles work, and girls learn about different artists and designers to inspire the work they create.

We enter our pupils into art competitions, visit galleries and host art exhibitions for parents. In addition, girls can choose to join our Art Appreciation and Art History Clubs.