🎨 Expressive Arts at Our School
At St Charles, we believe that the expressive arts — including art, music, drama, and dance — are essential to nurturing creativity, confidence, and emotional wellbeing. Through Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence, children learn in, through, and about the expressive arts, developing a rich understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Why Expressive Arts Matter
Learning in the expressive arts enables children and young people to:
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Be creative and express themselves in different and meaningful ways
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Experience enjoyment and contribute to others’ enjoyment through performance, presentation, and shared creative experiences
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Develop important skills, both specific to the arts and transferable across learning and life — such as communication, collaboration, and critical thinking
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Appreciate aesthetic and cultural values, identities, and ideas from diverse perspectives
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Build strong foundations for future learning and careers, with opportunities to pursue excellence in the expressive arts
How We Teach Expressive Arts
Our approach is:
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Inclusive and Child-Centred Every child is encouraged to explore their creativity in a safe, supportive environment that celebrates individuality.
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Active and Enjoyable We provide opportunities for children to perform, create, and collaborate — helping them build confidence and share joy with others.
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Skill-Building and Reflective Children develop artistic techniques alongside critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills that support learning across the curriculum.
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Culturally Rich and Aspirational We introduce children to a wide range of artistic styles, traditions, and ideas, helping them connect with diverse cultures and imagine future possibilities.
We celebrate creativity across the school and work in partnership with families and the wider community to showcase children’s talents and achievements.
