“High quality resources, for example in the areas of the arts and technology, enrich the learning experience and support pupils’ creative efforts.”
ISI, April 2025
Creative Arts
At Thames we excel at nurturing pupils’ creativity and aesthetic interests
The Visual Arts curriculum includes fine art, design technology, 3D design, and textile design. The ability to think creatively and solve problems is vital in an AI driven world, so we have made significant investment into these subjects, including, a fully equipped DT workshop and STEAM design studio, textiles and art studios.
Many of the teachers are specialist practitioners who work in their respective professions as well as teaching, bringing a strong awareness of the skills and knowledge required for professional success as adults. A range of co-curricular opportunities is available in each area of the curriculum and pupils take part in the Independent Schools Association Art Competition with considerable success both regionally and nationally.
Many pupils build on the foundations laid at Thames to take creative paths at university leading to careers in design, architecture or engineering.
Performing arts are highly valued. The rigour of performing – how you memorise, rehearse, project and communicate – and the confidence this instils, is applicable across all subjects and is a lifelong skill.
Drama lessons take place in our two specialist drama studios, one of which is equipped as a mirrored dance studio while the other is a black box which transforms into a 260 seat theatre with industry-standard sound and lighting facilities.
Pupils benefit from a specialist music room and suite of practice rooms. Lessons integrate performing, composing, listening and appraising across a wide variety of musical styles, genres and traditions as well as utilising specialist music software to create and manipulate musical ideas.
The end of year is marked by a musical theatre production: recent shows have included 42nd Street, Anything Goes and Happy Days: The New Musical. These are directed by staff who are professional musical theatre performers and take full advantage of the school theatre.
“Leaders provide a broad and balanced curriculum which successfully supports the passions and interests of individual pupils in a tailored and nuanced manner.”
ISI, April 2025
All pupils study Art in Years 7 and 8, after which it becomes optional. During these initial years pupils build a confident foundation that combines improving their perceptual skills, understanding how artists work, and learning how to use different media. Drawing skills underpin their artistic endeavours and each term pupils both experiment with 2D and 3D media and make more finished pieces.
Art is a popular subject at GCSE level and pupils achieve at a high level (over the last three years 76% have achieved grades 9-7 at GCSE). Pupils also have considerable success in the ISA Art competitions.
Small class sizes and incisive tuition enable pupils to develop their GCSE projects according to their own ideas. Year 11s benefit from a two day ceramic workshop which they integrate with their individual projects enabling them to make a significant three dimensional piece in their coursework projects. As pupils progress through the years they learn how to use different media effectively. Some pupils opt to study Art in addition to 3D Design and/or Textile Design at GCSE.
Performing arts are highly valued. The rigour of performing – how you memorise, rehearse, test yourself, project and communicate – is applicable across all subjects and is a lifelong skill. The newly formed Thames Theatre Company provides co-curricular opportunities in directing, scriptwriting, costume and set design. Private drama lessons are offered to pupils wishing to study for the LAMDA graded awards.
The end of the year is marked by a musical theatre production held in our own theatre with top of the range sound and lighting. Previous shows have included Happy Days, Anything Goes, 42nd Street, Hairspray, Smokey Joe’s Café and Calamity Jane. These musicals are directed and choreographed by professional musical theatre performers.
KS3 has been designed with GCSE in mind, where pupils already explore Theatre Practitioners such as: Frantic Assembly, Artaud, Brecht, Stanislavski and LeCoq through practical workshops. In 2025 Frantic Assembly led a workshop day for our year 11s to further develop skills.
Highly experienced teachers with an active knowledge and skillset of the industry approach the three components of GCSE: devising, performing from text and a written exam in an exciting way, equipping pupils to succeed not only for their exams but as performers and theatre practitioners. Pupils study The Government Inspector and visit the theatre as part of their written exam.
Pupils are entered for competitions including the ISA Drama competition, where pupils in year 10/11 compete against year 12s/13s across other schools. Since re-entering the competition post covid pupils have consistently impressed, with a highly commended in the category of Best Ensemble in 2025, and a highly commended in the Individual Performers Award in 2026. Further to this In 2026 Year 9’s won Best Musical within their age category.
The music curriculum comprises three elements: performing, composing and listening, which are all integrated to enable pupils to develop creative, cognitive, analytical and practical skills. The Key Stage 3 curriculum comprises of a variety of projects which explore music from different traditions and genres, embedding a solid grounding of musical knowledge, including music theory. The curriculum also incorporates an introduction to music technology, utilising both notation and sequencing software to create, manipulate and master sound. In the GCSE, pupils study the history of music from the 17th century to the present day including Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th century, popular music and jazz, music for stage and screen, and music from around the world. The Pearson Edexcel course explores musical language and theory, developing a broad understanding. Pupils perform and record a solo and an ensemble piece, and use either Sibelius notation software or Logic sequencing software to write two compositions, one set by the examination board, and the other a free choice piece.
Pupils are encouraged to participate in as many co-curricular activities as possible including the school choir, instrumental ensemble, jazz ensemble, percussion ensemble as well as small groups, and student-led ensembles. The annual school production is a focal point of the school year, and students across the school are encouraged to participate both on-stage and off. We have a team of specialist visiting music teachers who offer private tuition in a variety of musical instruments including piano, drums, guitar, violin, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone and voice.
Textile Design at Thames is a vibrant and hands-on subject. All pupils do Textile design in Year 8 as part of a carousel of creative subjects. Pupils have the option to choose the subject in Year 9 where we explore further textile processes within weekly lessons. Textile Design proves a popular choice for GCSE and in the past year 83% of pupils gained grades 9-7.
Textiles has a dedicated teaching space with an excellent range of sewing machines, heat presses and screen printing facilities. Pupils are able to experiment widely with techniques such as machine and hand embroidery, sublimation printing, weaving, fabric manipulation and garment construction. Pupils create unique fabric pieces for both interior and fashion outcomes. Work produced is contemporary, exciting and inspired by rich research into both historical designers and those working today. Pupils have the opportunity to create personal and engaging work and due to small class sizes teachers work closely with each student to support them in developing individual ideas.
Design and Technology at Thames equips students with skills that can be applied through experimentation and innovation, to produce creative design solutions.
Our purpose built workshops enable practical learning, including use of hand tools and a wide range of machinery. Traditional working methods are complemented by use of computer aided design and manufacturing. This includes access to our suite of Macbooks that allow pupils to use industry standard software including Adobe and Autodesk products. Facilities such as our multiple 3D printers, laser cutter and pressure former help turn concepts into prototypes and final designs.
As well as technical proficiency, we strive to help pupils develop critical understanding of what constitutes great design. One example of the varied briefs we set is the Year 9 chocolate project. Pupils design chocolate bars in response to the work of iconic designers. Initial concepts are refined into final models which are used to create moulds from which pupils cast their bars. These are wrapped in packaging, also designed by the students. Projects like this help Key Stage 3 pupils understand how to iterate and develop ideas. This practical, hands-on approach combines digital skills with analogue processes to prepare students for GCSE work.
In Key Stage 4, pupils build on the foundation from Design Technology as they develop increasingly sophisticated and ambitious projects in response to a GCSE in 3D Design. Pupils are encouraged to express themselves through their work, resulting in a wide range of GCSE work. Some examples from recent years have included a working record player, a lamp that turns on revolving gears inspired by planetary movement, a sculptural music stand, a large geometric terrarium, several fountains and numerous architectural and product design projects.
We are proud of having achieved excellent results in recent GCSE exams, with 79% of pupils achieving grades 9-7.
Drama and music showreels
Creative Arts at Thames
