Arts College Programme at Winchmore School

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Winchmore became a Specialist Arts College in 2004.  Specialist schools are an important part of the Government's plans to raise standards in secondary education. 

The Specialist Schools Programme (SSP) helps schools, in partnership with private sector sponsors and supported by additional Government funding, to establish distinctive identities through their chosen specialisms and achieve their targets to raise standards.

Specialist schools have a special focus on those subjects relating to their chosen specialism but must also meet the National Curriculum requirements and deliver a broad and balanced education to all pupils. The SSP promotes school improvement by providing opportunities for schools to work to their strengths, enabling them to deliver effective teaching and learning in their area of expertise, as well as across the curriculum, and to drive innovation.

Specialist schools work with named partner schools for the benefit of pupils beyond their own school boundaries and with other groups of people in the wider community. This ensures that the programme has an impact by helping to create a diverse network of secondary provision through the sharing of good practice and expertise.

Our Vision

As an Arts College, Winchmore will raise standards of achievement and the quality of learning in Art and Drama for all their students, leading to whole school improvement in performance.

The programme will:

• Generate a lifelong passion for, and appreciation of, the arts as both participants and discriminating audiences by promoting enjoyment of many different artistic forms and encouraging participation in a wide variety of artistic activity for all students
• Develop student creativity
• Be innovative in finding new ways for learners to learn well.  It will identify ways in which the arts can improve learning in other curriculum areas and will take a lead in using ICT as a means of enhancing learning in the arts and other subjects. In addition, it will enable students to work in school with professionals involved in the arts and creative industries and to enjoy artistic experiences outside the classroom
• Maximise the opportunities for young people to achieve in the arts and gain access to employment, further training and higher education in the arts
• Ensure Winchmore remains a centre of excellence for the arts, sharing resources and developing and sharing leading practice with other schools and their communities. 

Realisation of Vision

Winchmore intends to realise this vision by:

• Placing a high status on vocational courses in the arts so that all students can be engaged and realise their potential
• Developing the artistic skills and understanding of teachers and making imaginative use of new technologies as a means of raising the quality of teaching and learning in the arts
• Ensuring that learning in the arts is marked by creative rigour and discipline
• Exploring the potential of artistic activities to enhance learning across all curricular areas and promoting high levels of participation in extra-curricular arts activities in the arts
• Working with other schools (Raglan, Highfield, Raynham Primary Schools and Salisbury School) and the wider community in sharing facilities, human and other resources with a view to developing learning opportunities in the arts, including through partnership with local, national and international creative industries and arts institutions
• Involving professionals from the creative industries in school and community activities.