When exploring art at Race Leys Junior School our intention is to engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art as well as instilling an appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts.

To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in art, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. Art is taught as part of a half-termly topic, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum. We provide a variety of opportunities for art and design learning inside and outside the classroom. Each year, our proud tradition of taking part in the Griffin Arts Festival enhances the delivery of the arts to all our Griffins. We share the Trust’s vision that to value creativity is to enrich the lives of our children, young people and the adults who work with them. Wider opportunities play a pivotal role in exposing our children to a variety of art forms whilst expanding their experiences of a diverse world.

The impact of our success is that our curriculum is high quality, well thought out and planned to demonstrate progression. As we have enabled our Griffins to gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of the arts, we have been awarded Artsmark Gold.

Arts Partnerships

Big Draw

The Big Draw is a proud tradition within the Griffin Schools Trust. The aim of this project is to acquire new artistic skills, broaden Griffins knowledge whilst participating in art using mixed media.

Royal Opera House – Chance to Dance

Chance to Dance gives primary school children from across the country, who do not have access to ballet / live in areas facing numerous disadvantages, their first opportunity to engage creatively with ballet, connecting closely with the inspirational repertory, choreographers and dancers of The Royal Ballet.

With its 27-year track record for excellence, Chance to Dance is now building a national presence and being the catalyst for systemic change in who has access to ballet and the opportunity to train professionally. The programme seeks to find points of relevance within the art form for every participating child, their families and teachers, particularly in culturally and ethnically diverse communities. Chance to Dance aims to broaden and diversify the pool of young people with potential in ballet, to provide pathways to nurture and develop talent, with the aim of diversifying the range of dancers who have the opportunity to enter vocational ballet training and graduate to become professionals in the sector.

International Dance Day

International Dance Day is a global celebration of dance, created by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute, the main partner for the performing arts of UNESCO. The event takes place every year on 29 April, which is the anniversary of the birth of Jean-Georges Noverre, the creator of modern ballet.

This proud tradition for our Trust schools allows each setting to participate in a chosen dance routine. It is with great delight that we celebrate this day and share our efforts with one another.

Coram Shakespeare Schools Festival

Race Leys Junior School has been working alongside the Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation (Coram SSF) for the last five years and have achieved the bronze award. Our Griffins have not only broadened their Shakespearian knowledge but also strengthened their confidence and self-belief.

The world’s largest youth drama festival lies at the heart of Coram SSF’s transformative process. Every year, they work with thousands of pupils from every community, background and school type across the UK. Months of preparation culminate in exhilarating performance evenings in professional theatres nationwide; a night which can give confidence and self-esteem to last a lifetime.

We believe Shakespeare is for everyone. Every year children from very different backgrounds come together to perform on the same stage. We have used the power of Shakespeare to improve the life chances of thousands of the most disadvantaged young people in the UK and with children with special educational needs.

Arts Ambassadors

Student Voice

Curriculum Documents