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Sixth Form Arts Awards

Championing the Visual & Performing Arts

The Frensham Heights Arts Awards recognise outstanding Sixth Form talent across the creative and performing arts. Open to aspiring artists, actors, dancers, musicians and designers, the awards offer a 15% fee award alongside expert support to help students develop their skills and fulfil their creative ambitions.

WATCH OUR NEW PERFORMING ARTS FILM

FRENSHAM HEIGHTS ARTS AWARDS

The Frensham Heights Arts Awards give talented young creatives the opportunity to pursue their artistic passions alongside their Sixth Form studies. Whether their interests lie in performing or creative arts, students are encouraged to develop their skills, explore new ideas and opportunities, and build the confidence to take the next step in their creative or performing journey.

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Successful applicants receive a 15% fee award and become part of a community where creativity is valued, individuality is celebrated and the arts are an integral part of everyday life. With almost 30 subjects available in Year 12, students can choose to follow a predominantly arts-based pathway or combine their creative interests with other Sixth Form subjects, creating a curriculum that is truly their own.

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The Arts Awards are open to day and boarding students interested in studying one or more of the following subjects:

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DANCE, ACTING, MUSICAL THEATRE, TECHNICAL THEATRE, MUSIC, CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, FINE ART, PHOTOGRAPHY, 3D DESIGN,
GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION.

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If you are interested in applying for a Frensham Heights Arts Award, please email admissions@frensham.org

 

Arts Awards are allocated each year following a successful audition and/or portfolio interview, which takes place on Sixth Form Interview Day. See here for more information

PERFORMING ARTS​

From the stage to the rehearsal room, Frensham's Performing Arts offer students countless opportunities to perform, collaborate and develop their craft. Students can explore dance, acting, musical theatre, music and technical theatre, supported by experienced teachers and a creative community that encourages experimentation and individuality.

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Performance is a central part of life at Frensham. Students have the opportunity to take part in musicals, plays, dance performances, concerts and other productions, as well as developing the skills behind the scenes through technical theatre. Whether performing to an audience, creating music together or bringing a production to life backstage, students are encouraged to find their own creative voice and contribute to the wider life of the school.​

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Watch our new Performing Arts Film below to learn more.

CREATIVE ARTS​

Frensham's Creative Arts provide space for students to experiment, take creative risks and develop their own artistic identity. Through Fine Art, Photography, 3D Design, Graphic Communication and Creative Industries, students can explore a wide range of materials, processes and approaches while building the technical and conceptual skills needed to take their work further.

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With outstanding arts facilities and a culture that values individuality, students are encouraged to develop ideas in their own way, whether that means working traditionally, experimenting with new media or combining different creative disciplines. The breadth of the Sixth Form curriculum also allows students to connect their creative practice with other areas of study and build a pathway that reflects their interests and ambitions.​

EXTRACURRICULAR & ENRICHMENT

Students who are on the Frensham Heights Arts Award Programme will not only receive inspirational teaching from a highly skilled and talented staff, but will also be offered additional opportunities to develop and enhance their passion. Students will benefit from an extensive array of enrichment tailored to their interests. Each student will be assigned a mentor from the teaching team - relevant to their specialism. They will work with their mentor on a bespoke programme which will run alongside their subject curriculum. This could involve specialist training with external experts and academic support when auditions or performances demand time off timetable. Group enrichment would range from trips to the West End or London exhibitions to workshops led by professional performers and artists to support to help you mentor younger students and develop student-led performances or exhibitions. In the visual arts, students will have open access to the studios on weekends which will include the opportunity to work alongside our teachers and technicians – giving students the invaluable experience of watching creative professionals working on their own private or commercial projects. Bespoke paths will include ceramics focus sessions and life drawing workshops. As we build relationships with local and regional creative hubs, students will have the opportunity to take their theatre pieces, bands or artwork on the road to external performance or exhibition spaces. 

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Under the Frensham Heights Arts Awards, we will expect students to not only take full advantage of the enrichment and extracurricular opportunities on offer, but also find ways to enrich the experience of the rest of the school community – for example, by directing student-led performances, supporting Junior School arts clubs or mentoring younger performers or artists. Being part of a through school - from nursery through Sixth Form - allows our older students to gain confidence, communication skills and solid experience by being mentors to our younger students.

 

As a Sixth Form student at Frensham, students will also have access to the full extracurricular programme of clubs and trips.  Please click here to view our current extracurricular club programme.

EXTRACURRICULAR

OUR VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS TEAM

photographic portrait of ceramics teacher making a pot

Amy Marriott

Ceramics Teacher

Amy has taught Art and Ceramics at Frensham Heights for five years and also runs four popular lunchtime creative ECAs each week.

Passionate about sharing her love of clay and art in all its forms, Amy feels fortunate to work with students who are eager to immerse themselves in the process of designing and making.​

photograph of female drama teacher

Clare Esterhuysen

Drama Teacher

Clare has been a part of the Performing Arts team at Frensham Heights since 2008, alongside teaching she has been a part of many school productions over the years which offer the opportunity to every child in the school to be a part of this thriving department.

Used paint brushes stand in a tin can, artistic supplies close up view.

Hannah Fernandes

Art Teacher

Hannah enjoys instilling an excitement for Art in all children, exploring the creative challenges that lie at the heart of making, for both students and teacher. Her experience of education and teaching is broad and with great depth; following a degree in History of Art (with textiles and painting) she undertook a Masters in Photography, working at The Royal College of Art, London, and acquired a PCGE in Education from The Institute of Education, London.  

head of creative arts lifting blankets from printing press

Katherine Loudoun

Head of Art & Ceramics

Katherine is a practising painter and printmaker, focusing her work on both architecture and landscape. Many of her work explores processes which are both analogue and digital and she is passionate to keep exploring traditional ways with new technology in the digital era.

portrait of head of dance

Rebecca McKellar

Head of Dance

Rebecca began her dancing life at the age of 5 starting with tap and modern and progressing to Jazz dance.  Throughout her schooling she achieved many awards in ISTD tap, modern and jazz eventually completing all grades in both Jazz and Tap.  

art teacher in front of student artwork

Anna Boon-Arnell

Lead Teacher for Graphic Communication and Teacher of Art

Anna joined the creative arts team at Frensham Heights in 2021. She believes that the creative subjects in any school are a vital area and a key one to help students develop fully within themselves, educating the whole person, mind, body and spirit. Creative art subjects help to give students a sense of identity, self-expression, and self-assurance.

design and technology teacher using virtual headset

Gemma Burns

Head of Design & Technology

Gemma has been teaching for 15 years and leads Design and Technology at Frensham. Before moving into education, she worked across film, theatre and branding — creating the weird and wonderful, with projects including The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

music teacher sitting at piano with audio visual equipment behind him

Josh Edwards

Music Teacher

Josh studied academic Music at King’s College, London, and singing at The Royal Academy of Music. Josh’s professional career has taken him around the world, performing as soloist and consort member with some of the best Early Music ensembles such as La Nouva Musica, Stile Antico, and Siglo d’Oro. 

dance teacher in dance studio with student behind

Lynn Goodburne

Dance & Drama Teacher

Lynn has worked at Frensham Heights since 2002. She holds a Diploma, Dance and Teaching London College of Dance, Bedford and a B.Phil (Hons), Ballet and Contextual Studies from the Royal Academy of Dance (Durham University) along with qualifications in Tap, Modern, Ballet and National from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing .   

photography teacher looking at a camera on a tripod

Sarah Farr

Lead Teacher for Photography

Sarah is the Curriculum Lead in Photography, having been at the school for the last ten years.  

After having children, Sarah decided to expand and explore her interest of photography as a mature student under the University of Surrey, where subsequently after graduating, she launched herself into a career of freelance photography; working independently on several projects, including the local press. 

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art teacher in front of student artwork

Brendan Horstead

Director of Creative Arts, Teacher of Fine Art and Graphic Communication

Brendan has led the Creative Arts at Frensham since 2008. He has been a resident member of boarding staff since joining the school and part of the Sixth Form Tutor Team for the last twelve years. 

design and technology teacher looking at battery powered racing car

Giles Rudd

Assistant Head (Progress & Assessment) and Design & Technology Teacher

Before undertaking his teacher training, Giles worked for one of the world leading civil engineering organisations, creating and developing computer aided design drawings, working alongside structural engineers and architects. He has been teaching Design & Technology for 16 years and is passionate about students believing in their abilities, and achieving excellent design outcomes.

portrait of director of performing arts

Kat Pinnell

Director of Performing Arts

Kat studied Musical Theatre at the Arden School of Theatre in Manchester where she specialised in singing, acting and dancing. She quickly discovered her passion for directing, writing and applied theatre and after working as a performer, Kat began her teaching career with a hunger to work with young people, direct youth performances and bring drama & theatre to the wider community. 

design and technology teacher using rotary saw

Neil Martin

Design & Technology and Art Teacher

Neil has worked at Frensham Heights since 2018 and gained his post graduate certificate in education whist working here. His main role is as the DT technician but he also teaches DT and Art. 

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