Creative Arts – Connor

Music is a central part of life at St Lawrence College. Our aim is to nurture an appreciation and understanding of music across a wide range of genres and styles, while encouraging pupils to experience the joy of performing. From concerts and ensembles to recording and composing, students are given every opportunity to develop both their skills and their love for music.

Academic Music

All pupils receive classroom music lessons in Years 7 and 8, exploring musical elements, listening skills, composition, and performance. From Year 9 onwards, music becomes an optional subject at GCSE and A Level. Our curriculum is designed to challenge and inspire musicians of all abilities.

The Music Department is well-equipped, featuring a main classroom with a suite of iMacs, a professional recording studio, and a range of practice rooms to support solo and group rehearsal.

Please see our academics page for more details.

Performance Opportunities

We offer a wide variety of ensembles and performance groups, including:

• Orchestra
• Senior and Kirby Choirs
• Jazz Band
• Rock Band
• Student-led ensembles tailored to pupil strengths

Popular highlights of the year include our House Singing Competition and the high-energy Battle of the Bands. Regular concerts give all musicians—from beginners to advanced performers—the chance to take the stage and share their talents.

Individual Tuition

Many pupils take individual instrumental or vocal lessons with our team of expert visiting music teachers. Tuition is available across a wide range of instruments and musical styles. Pupils consistently achieve Distinctions and Merits in ABRSM, Trinity, and Rockschool graded examinations.

Click here to view our Music Lesson Information Pack and Booking Form.

Beyond the Classroom

Musical enrichment at SLC extends beyond campus. Pupils enjoy regular trips to concerts in London and the local area, as well as in-house workshops and masterclasses led by visiting professional musicians.

Music tours are a much-loved part of our co-curricular programme. Recent highlights include the Kirby Choir’s performance at Disneyland Paris and in one of the city’s historic churches.

Scholarships

Music Scholarships are offered at 11+, 13+, and 16+ to talented pupils who demonstrate musical ability and potential. For more information or to apply, please contact our Registrar at admissions@slcuk.com.

Facilities

At St Lawrence College, Art is a vibrant and essential part of school life — a subject where students are encouraged to be bold, curious, and expressive. Through a carefully designed and progressive curriculum, pupils develop their own artistic voice while mastering a range of traditional and contemporary techniques.

From Foundation to Mastery

In Key Stage 3, students begin their artistic journey by building core skills in drawing, observation, and idea development. These are explored through creative projects that foster experimentation, confidence, and personal reflection.

At GCSE level (AQA Art & Design), pupils work on sustained and personalised projects, refining their techniques across painting, printmaking, sculpture, and mixed media. A-Level students can specialise in Art, Craft & Design, immersing themselves in an independent creative process that encourages innovation, personal inquiry, and mastery of materials.

Please see our academics page for more details.

Artistic Development & Individual Support

Open-ended tasks, expert one-to-one guidance, and small group critiques allow each student to flourish creatively at their own pace. We nurture not only technical skill, but also critical thinking, visual literacy, and expressive communication.

Beyond the Classroom

Pupils participate in a wide range of enrichment opportunities, including life drawing sessions, artist-led workshops, gallery trips (such as the Turner Contemporary and exhibitions in London), and entries into prestigious competitions like the Royal Academy’s Young Artists Summer Show. Their work is regularly showcased in the department’s own gallery, celebrating creativity across all year groups.

A Creative Future

The skills gained through art — from problem-solving to creative risk-taking — are highly transferable and form the foundation for careers in fine art, design, branding, illustration, architecture, and more.

Meet Levi

Facilities

Photography at St Lawrence College is where visual storytelling meets cutting-edge creativity. Offered as a dedicated A-Level pathway, it empowers students to see the world through a new lens; both literally and conceptually.

Independent and Experimental

Our students explore the art of photography through technical skill-building, critical analysis, and hands-on experimentation. They engage with both analogue and digital formats, developing proficiency in studio lighting, composition, darkroom processing, image manipulation and Adobe editing software.

Curriculum Depth

Following the AQA Photography specification, students produce highly individualised portfolios and coursework. Emphasis is placed on independent exploration of themes and building a strong personal aesthetic. The subject encourages reflection, resilience, and creative risk-taking, all supported by specialist guidance in a well-resourced, dedicated studio.

Please see our academics page for more details.

Real-World Inspiration

To deepen engagement with the wider photographic world, students take part in gallery visits and creative workshops. Trips to London and New York provide opportunities to study the work of established photographers and artists, while enriching their cultural and visual understanding.

Pathways & Preparation

With growing demand for visual communication across industries, Photography opens doors to careers in media, advertising, branding, content creation, editorial, and digital design. Students receive tailored support for university applications, portfolio development, and progression into creative industries.

Meet Ileri

Facilities

Drama at St Lawrence College is an energetic and inclusive space where creativity, collaboration and confidence take centre stage. Students are encouraged to explore performance in all its forms – from acting and directing to design and production – within a vibrant and supportive theatrical environment.

Performance with Purpose

Our curriculum goes far beyond the script. Through devising, rehearsing and analysing live theatre, students learn to express complex ideas, connect with diverse perspectives, and reflect on the world around them. Regular performance opportunities, including two major productions a year, House Drama, and Theatre Thursday showcases allow students to refine their craft and celebrate their progress in front of an audience.

A Home for Creativity

Drama is taught in Taylor Hall, our 500-seat professional-standard theatre, complete with modern lighting and sound systems, costume storage and dressing rooms. Whether it’s Shakespeare, musicals or contemporary devised theatre, students bring stories to life in a space built to inspire. All pupils study Drama as part of the curriculum up to Year 8, with options to continue at GCSE and A-Level for those seeking to deepen their skills.

Please see our academics page for more details.

LAMDA: Confidence that Lasts a Lifetime

Speech and Drama lessons (LAMDA) are a cornerstone of our co-curricular offering. Taught individually or in small groups, LAMDA empowers students to develop powerful communication skills, build stage presence and prepare for nationally recognised qualifications — including those that carry UCAS points at Grades 6–8. Pupils can specialise in Acting, Public Speaking, Mime, Verse and Prose, Shakespeare and more.

Culture, Competition, and Celebration

Trips to professional theatre productions, visiting companies and workshops with industry experts bring the wider world of theatre into the classroom. Events like Arts Fortnight and Drama Scholarships add richness and momentum to the calendar, while performance pathways ensure every student can find their role — whether on stage or behind the scenes.

Creative Futures

Drama nurtures adaptable, articulate and resilient individuals. Students graduate with transferable skills in communication, problem-solving and teamwork — qualities that are essential in careers from law and teaching to business, broadcasting, media and the performing arts. For those who love the energy of theatre and the power of expression, Drama at SLC is the perfect stage.

Facilities

Design Technology at St Lawrence College blends innovation, functionality and imagination — equipping students to think, prototype and problem-solve like true creatives in an ever-evolving world.

Innovation in Action

More than just making, DT at SLC is about meaningful creation. Students explore the full lifecycle of design: from concept and planning to execution and evaluation. They work across a wide range of materials and technologies, gaining hands-on experience with 3D printing, laser cutting, electronics, and textiles. From product design to wearable tech, every brief encourages purpose-driven innovation.

Personal Projects, Real Outcomes

With a curriculum that evolves from Key Stage 3 through to A-Level, students take on increasingly ambitious and personalised design challenges. At GCSE and A-Level, projects are student-led, allowing for exploration in areas like sustainability, inclusive design, smart materials, and engineered systems. Whether designing for user needs or tackling environmental issues, our students are empowered to think critically and creatively.

Please see our academics page for more details.

A Studio for Discovery

Our well-equipped workshops are dynamic spaces where creativity meets precision. Students use professional-standard CAD software and fabrication tools to realise their ideas, guided by expert tuition and individual feedback. This environment fosters independent thinking and problem-solving skills — essential not just for exams, but for future pathways.

Design Thinking Beyond the Classroom

DT students regularly engage in national competitions like Design Ventura and experience workshops led by real-world designers and engineers. The department also offers exciting enrichment such as Robot Wars, DT Ambassadors, and trips to the Design Museum and V&A — extending learning beyond textbooks and into authentic, inspiring contexts.

Future-Ready Skills

Design Technology nurtures a unique blend of technical and transferable skills. Students graduate with fluency in design thinking, communication, and innovation — ready for careers in engineering, architecture, product development, UX/UI design, or entrepreneurship. For those pursuing creative industries, DT is a launchpad for making meaningful impact through thoughtful design.

Facilities