The Arts

This page is currently undergoing reconstruction and is incomplete

Music, Drama, Photography & Visual Arts

In Years 7 and 8, students are given varied experiences in The Arts Learning Area.

Year 7s rotate through Music, Drama, Photography and Visual Art in semesters 1 and 2.

Music

Music at Bridgetown High School gives the opportunity for students to become independent musicians and develop the confidence to perform in public. Students perform in a range of events throughout the year such as end-of-term assemblies, Blues at Bridgetown, and other, smaller community events.

The focus for Music is to help students:

• increase their self-esteem;
• work as a team;
• persevere;
• explore creativity; and
• build confidence.

Our Music programme consists of a mix of theoretical and practical components, with students spending much of their time learning and perfecting songs for performance. To encourage engagement most of the songs are chosen by students themselves, with guidance from the teacher.

Our Music students are equipped with the skills to form bands and work together as a team. The aim is for our students to enjoy Music and develop lifelong skills.

Drama

The Drama programme at Bridgetown High School allows students to study a variety of theatrical forms and styles. They begin in Year 7, exploring the basic principles of improvisation and the way in which Drama aids in building confidence, self-esteem and imagination. Students learn about the importance of warming up their bodies and voices and begin to develop an understanding of the physical requirements required to be a strong performer.

In Years 8-10, students will have the opportunity to develop their performance skills in a variety of forums.

Year 8 students refine their improvisation skills with a unit of Theatre Sports. They then work on play-building; selecting, writing and developing scripts. This hard work always culminates in a performance.

In Years 9 and 10, students continue to develop their acting and play-building skills. They explore modern theorists such as Laban and Brecht, and use their new skills to aid in performance.

At Bridgetown High School we have a beautiful theatre space, this allows our senior students to familiarise themselves with the technical elements of theatre and stage management. Students interested in this aspect of Drama are given the opportunity to select an area of interest backstage, and take on such roles as wardrobe, lighting and sound operation, and set design/construction.

Photography

Photography in school can lead to various career paths, including professional photography roles like commercial, fashion, or photojournalism, as well as related fields like photo editing, graphic design, and even teaching. Photography skills are also valuable for careers in marketing, advertising, and social media, as well as specialized areas like scientific or medical photography.

CURRICULUM

Year 7 Photography 

In Year 7 Photography, students are introduced to photography as a visual art form, focusing on the exploration of different camera types and the foundational elements of composition. They learn to apply basic compositional techniques such as the rule of thirds and leading lines, culminating in two key assessments: the first involves capturing a series of well-composed images, and the second is the creation of a themed photographic calendar that showcases their developing skills. 

Year 8 Photography 

In Year 8, students refine the technical skills gained in Year 7, with a focus on using photography for personal expression and visual storytelling. They explore manual camera settings, more advanced composition techniques, and photo editing software to enhance their creative output. Their learning is demonstrated through two major projects: designing a concept-driven music album cover and producing a personal photographic portfolio that uses narrative sequencing and symbolism to communicate a cohesive visual story. 

Visual Art

Bridgetown High School embraces and encourages student creativity. We offer a variety of disciplines such as ceramics, painting, drawing, print making, textiles and sculpture. Within our Art programme, students learn to communicate their ideas through different processes whilst building their artistic skills. Students analyse work of famed artists, but also learn to reflect on their own practice. Each art project is designed to develop critical thinking and shape social values but most importantly, the Art classes at Bridgetown High School are engaging, inclusive and fun!

“Creativity is the way I share my soul with the world”. - Brene Brown