At Hurlingham, we believe in nurturing every child’s talent, and the creative arts offer a vibrant platform for many to find their voice and shine. Whether through performance, visual arts, or music, we provide rich opportunities that are essential to building confidence and fostering personal development.
Arts in the Curriculum – Art, Drama, and Music
From Reception to Year 2, pupils enjoy weekly art sessions led by their Class Teachers. From Year 3 onwards, these lessons are taught by subject specialists in Creative Arts and Design Technology, offering deeper exploration and skill-building.
Drama is introduced as a weekly subject from Year 3, helping children develop their creativity, storytelling, and stage presence. Pupils learn improvisation, scene creation, and theatrical devices, all while gaining confidence in self-expression.
Music is woven into school life with a weekly 30-minute general music lesson for all classes, plus a singing session with their year group. These lessons provide foundational musical skills and introduce students to rhythm, melody, and ensemble performance.
Opportunities to perform and present creative work are central to life at Hurlingham. From their earliest years, children participate in public performances, including the much-loved Reception Christmas Play.
Hurlingham pupils are regularly given opportunities to perform, with highlights including class assemblies and year-group “revues” which are distinctive traditions that blend reflective learning with engaging performance, alongside ballet and karate showcases that celebrate physical skill and artistic expression. The year culminates in a show-stopping Year 6 musical production, an ambitious performance that would not be out of place on a professional stage.
Students also share their work beyond the school, contributing to collaborative art projects exhibited in the local community and with partner schools across Wandsworth.
Extra-Curricular Music and Individual Lessons
We actively support pupils in pursuing their musical passions through a broad range of co-curricular opportunities:
| Choirs |
| Children may join one of our three inclusive school choirs, which rehearse during lunch and perform regularly throughout the year. More experienced vocalists in Years 5 and 6 can audition for the Chamber Choir, where they tackle complex harmonies and participate in festivals and competitions. |
| Music Ensembles |
| Specialist teachers lead instrumental groups in Woodwind, Brass, and Strings. Our Saturday morning Orchestral Ensemble and a variety of contemporary groups, such as the Live Band, Ukulele Group, Recorder Group, Saxophone and Jazz Flute Group offer something for everyone. Pupils may also join the creative M.A.D.D.4! (Music, Arts, Dance, and Drama) Club from Spring Term in reception. |
| Individual Music Lessons |
| From Year 1, pupils can take one-to-one lessons with our accomplished peripatetic music staff. Lessons are available in a wide array of instruments, and students have regular chances to perform in our “Spotlight Concerts,” celebrating progress and performance. |
| Instruments |
| Instruments offered include: Violin, Viola, Cello, Trumpet, Cornet, Euphonium, Trombone, French Horn, Fife, Flute, Recorder, Clarinet, Saxophone, Piano, Drums, Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, and Voice. |
Explore this section
Artsmark and Arts Award
We are proud to hold the Artsmark Gold Award, a recognition of our long-standing excellence in arts education.
Hurlingham was featured in the Arts Council’s film “London Schools Talk Artsmark” as the exemplar for the primary independent sector.
Every pupil earns at least two certificates from the Arts Award Scheme, a national recognition program run by the Arts Council. These include the Explore award, which is fully accredited and supports early creative exploration and achievement.
Learning An Instrument
All children from year 1 and above have the opportunity to sign up for one to one instrumental music lessons. We pride ourselves in having excellent working professionals teaching the children of Hurlingham in all instruments across the orchestral spectrum and beyond.
Lessons are generally for 30 minutes per week and pupils have many opportunities to perform in spotlight concerts throughout the year. Our specialist instrument teachers lead various ensembles in Woodwind, Brass, Strings and a large ensemble meets on Saturday mornings for years 3-6 (occasionally year 2 pupils join if a little more advanced).
The following instruments can be studied:
- Violin
- Viola
- Cello
- Trumpet
- Cornet
- Euphonium
- Trombone
- French Horn
- Fife
- Flute
- Recorder
- Clarinet
- Saxophone
- Piano
- Drums
- Acoustic & Electric Guitar
- Bass Guitar
- Ukulele & Voice
We also run a number of music ensembles through the MADD (Music, arts, dance and drama) extra curricular provision and pupils are given the option of which groups they would like to attend whether that be Band, Ukulele, Recorder or the Dood, Toots and JSax group (a modern take on a clarinet, flute or saxophone). All of these run at a beginner and above level except for Band, which requires some experience, although it is a drums, guitars and keyboards group rather than a more traditional ‘Band’.
Once a week, all children will have a general music lesson for 30 minutes with their class and a singing practice with their section of the school. This is in addition to our four wonderful choirs, including the Chamber Choir which is a selective ensemble for children in years 5 & 6.
Hurlingham Spotlights for solo performers is open to solo performers from any year group, whether they are learning with their music teacher in school or with music teachers out of school. This is in addition to end of term concerts for groups,
choirs and ensembles.