Performing Arts & Music

In a world increasingly dominated by a digital revolution that has swept the globe, the vast majority of the children of today experience the influence of technology in a manner that is wholly unrecognisable to older generations. In stark contrast, the benefits of immersion in the Performing Arts have remained consistent for more than 2000 years since Socrates and his student Pluto first recognised the Performing Arts’ psychological and moral impact on the soul circa 400 years BC.

Brackenfield School’s demonstrable commitment to the Performing Arts is first and foremost because the children love it. Within our community and around the world, by luminaries such as Sir David Attenbrough, Dame Julie Andrews even as far as Hollywood, we have been recognised for the quality of our Performing Arts. 

The school’s Performing Arts offering is woven into the heart of our school. Our school’s mission has four key aims and six core values. Performing Arts at Brackenfield is intrinsic to these aims and values. Each one of which the pupils and teachers genuinely live by in delivering the excellent array of school and pupil performances throughout each academic year.

Our highly talented Performing Arts teachers comprising of Ms Helen Leaf, Director of Music and Mrs Emilie Moon, Head of Infants and Year 2 teacher combine to create MoonLeaf productions, unique to Brackenfield School. This dynamic duo write, produce and direct a jam packed schedule of productions and music and conduct the choirs for the Brackenfield School community to perform throughout the year.

At Brackenfield, we believe the Performing Arts activities our pupils are regularly immersed in are a highly effective antidote to the all pervading negative aspects of digital influence. We are determined to preserve our pupils’ childhoods whilst creating a “Bracken” – a child who during their years in our school becomes the very best version of themselves. Our pupils strive academically; they are empathetic, emotionally intelligent and confident in their abilities without being arrogant. They are excellent communicators, with a steady belief in their own voice. The pupils understand the power of teamwork and collaboration. They are also steeped in the importance of valuing community. We equip Year 6 leavers with the tools they will need in their senior schools as they transition from childhood to becoming young men and women. We are highly ambitious for our pupils and our Performing Arts offering underpins these ambitions, our school’s mission and our values.

Typically during an academic year, the list of Performing Arts is long and impressive, particularly for a school of Brackenfield’s size. First in the academic year is the Infant nativity. In the Spring term a Spring concert is delivered by the Juniors and the Infants perform in a Mini concert. In the summer term the Juniors’ end of year play brings the house down and is fitting celebration of the pupils’ time at Brackenfield

Additionally, Ms Leaf, whose background is in Musical Theatre, writes outstanding pieces of music to celebrate events of significant importance. Examples being Sir David Attenborough and Dame Julie Andrews’ birthdays, both of whom personally corresponded with the pupils of Brackenfield School to thank them for their beautifully sung tributes. The Pixar Way sung by Brackenfield’s Infants elicited a letter from Mr Peter Doherty, Chief Creative Officer at Pixar and co-writer of the famous film Toy Story. Ms Leaf’s songs achieve international recognition!

As well as performances of school plays and music, the school choirs are a major highlight of the Performing Arts offering. The Junior Choir regularly spreads joy with pop up performances around Harrogate but proving that music unifies the ages are the Junoir Choir performances for residents in care homes local to Brackenfield. The uplifting nature of these visits for both young and old is atmospherically palpable

Alongside the plays, performances and music, children at Brackenfield learn instruments, Year 2 enjoy weekly Djembe drum lessons and Year 5’s band were very recently runners up in an ISA competition. Children enjoy lessons in a huge range of instruments from peripatetic teachers, singing lessons and in Speech & Drama.