The implications of this new building are not just space to fill with lessons and teaching, I hope that the new centre will become an arts centre, with performances, exhibitions, workshops and evening classes. The space for exhibiting art work is wonderful with space for milling, perhaps even a cafe, bracketed by two areas for performance.
The implications of this new build for me, other than the obvious, is a vision to use digital media to break down the traditional curriculum and subject structures that have existed, with Art, Music and Drama being discrete areas, and to use digital media as a bridge, or an umbrella. to encompass these areas and draw them into a unified creative arts faculty. I envisage group work that combines acting. creating sound tracks, filming, producing and broadcasting. There is great potential also for using digital technology to blur the boundaries, not just between the creative subjects, but across both curriculum and age range.
As a school we are looking at the possibility of reducing the examination load at key stage four, perhaps offering a core of exams, and complimenting this with subject choices of our own devising, based in cross curricular activities, reflecting the Quaker nature of the school, with social and environmental issues taking greater prominence.
I see digital technology as taking a pivotal roll in these exciting possibilities, and plan to help realise this potential.