Specialist School Status in the Performing and Visual Arts

Sir Cliff Richard with Andrew Nicholas, Chair of Governors and Giles Bird, Headteacher, in front of a commemorative plaque that Sir Cliff unveiled, to mark Kingsmead School being awarded Specialist Schools Status in the Performing and Visual Arts!

Kingsmead School officially achieved specialist status in the Performing and Visual Arts in September 2006. A celebratory event to mark this occasion took place earlier in the year in May, when Sir Cliff Richard, a long time friend to Kingsmead School, unveiled a specially commissioned plaque in the Art department to mark the event.

As an arts school, we are now recognised:

As a centre of excellence for Art, Drama, Dance, Graphics, Media, Music Photography, and Textiles.
For developing and sharing best practice for improving educational standards both within Kingsmead School and schools within the borough of Enfield.
For outstanding teaching and learning in the arts subjects.
For imaginatively using the arts to develop and enhance achievement in all subjects.
For offering our students enriched opportunities in extra curricular activities.
For working actively and effectively with out partners in the local education community and the wider community at large.

'The school production of The Wizard of Oz, November 2006'

Analysis of 2006 GCSE results shows that the specialist schools programme is having a positive long-term impact on secondary school achievement, with innovative and creative activities continuing to deliver substantial additional value to students.

Upon gaining specialist status, a school receives additional funding from central government. At Kingsmead this has allowed us to redevelop our school hall, so that by September 2007 it will have become a 300 seat, state of the art, theatre venue, that will be the ‘Arts Heart’ of Kingsmead. It will not just be used as a performance area, but also for lectures, speeches and conferences and as a resource for the local community.

Our commitment to specialist status is reflected by all the productions, exhibitions and concerts we stage, the activities students and staff participate in, the projects we undertake and the community and business links we develop. These include:

‘Summer Nights’ production in July 2006
The annual Kingsmead Art Exhibition.
Our first ever fashion show in June 2006, continued now annually.
A show-stopping production of The Wizard of Oz in November 2006
One day Art workshops with a number of local primary schools.
The annual Kingsmead Talent Show.
A Christmas screening of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ for senior citizens.
The work of our Advanced Skills Teachers (ASTs) in Drama and Music and Poetry.
‘Born’s Machines’ a ground breaking, dramatic performance staged at Forty Hall Museum in May 2007.
Being awarded the highly prestigious Artsmark gold award from the Arts Council of England in May 2007.