2 minute read
A Fine Education
Which are the school subjects that teach your child valuable skills, both for their future academic pathways and their working lives? Maths and Engineering? Or Music and Drama? In recent years, there has been much focus on STEM subjects to prepare young people for careers in a world of rapid technological advance. But the Arts and Humanities offer benefits that can be regarded as even more valuable in a future society. There is great worth in developing skills that computers can’t do.
Creative subjects teach young people analytical thinking, curiosity, and a critical outlook. They are powerful in preparing students to cope with questions that do not have a right and wrong answer. It is not that one group of subjects has more inherent value than another. Fulfilment and happiness for children lies in finding aptitude – watching for natural interests and talents – and nurturing this, to allow each young person to find what it is he or she can contribute to this fast-evolving world.
At Fine Arts College, we have created an environment that seeks out and celebrates individual talent, whether in the Arts or the Sciences. We reside in a quiet courtyard campus just off Hampstead’s England’s Lane. This little world of calm is part of what our students find so different about our school. We have no uniform, encourage independent learning, and expect informal but respectful relationships between students and teachers.
Many of our students have come to us because they have felt restricted in more traditional private school environments, so we aim to create a space in which they can explore their talents and flourish.
Founded in 1978 as a specialist college for the Arts, the college opened a Lower School for GCSE pupils in 1990 and began offering the full academic curriculum, including Maths and Science.
In September, Fine Arts is expanding the Lower School to take 13-year-olds in Year 9. This has been a natural progression, as we increasingly find parents who are seeking a school for younger children already showing excellence in creative subjects. Pupils will be able to take GCSE exams in Maths, English, and Science, but also be able to choose from a wide range of creative disciplines such as Music, Drama and Art. Regardless of our specialism, all subjects are taught by tutors who are passionate about their discipline.
For parents, it can be comforting to know that there is no blueprint for a successful child. Our students have often taken an unusual route, moving schools to find a space where their interest in noir films, digital music technology or acting can flourish. Many of our alumni go on to fame and fortune in their careers. By allowing children to explore the areas of their education they naturally love, parents can help them to build a positive relationship with learning that leads to great things.
