Creative & Performing Arts | Co-educational School Reading

Crosfields’ Creative Arts are a vibrant, inclusive hub where pupils from Nursery to Year 11 develop confidence, imagination, and a lifelong love of performance. Music and Drama pulse through school life, offering every child the chance to shine on stage, behind the scenes, or through innovative digital creation. With a rich curriculum, state of the art facilities, global cultural experiences, and a dynamic blend of traditional and cutting edge technologies, the arts at Crosfields nurture talent, celebrate individuality, and inspire creative expression at every stage of a pupil’s journey.

Music at Crosfields

Music is woven through the life of Crosfields, inspiring our pupils and filling the school with creativity and joy. Every child from Nursery to Year 9 enjoys a dedicated hour of music each week, building core skills, exploring global musical traditions, and experiencing the thrill of performance. GCSE musicians take this further with three hours of specialist teaching focused on compositionset works learning, theory, and performance. More than 200 pupils also take individual lessons each week, enriching their musical journey beyond the classroom.

Throughout the year, pupils take part in a rich calendar of concerts and events, including seasonal performances, Scholars’ and GCSE showcases, piano recitals, House Music, and major school celebrations. Whether performing as soloists, in ensembles, or as part of one of our six choirs, every pupil has the opportunity to shine.
Our ensembles cater to a wide range of interests, from orchestra to guitar, harp, musical theatre, digital music groups, and more. Younger pupils explore instruments such as ocarinas, recorders, xylophones, ukuleles, and keyboards, laying strong foundations for future musicianship.

In Seniors, pupils engage with industry standard platforms such as Cubase, composing and recording like professional musicians. They also experiment with AI supported tools to create revision aids, short films, and digital compositions, ensuring they are well equipped for the modern creative landscape.

Drama at Crosfields

Drama at Crosfields provides a lively, ambitious environment where pupils learn to communicate with confidence and collaborate creatively. Guided by our ethos of “teach to the top and scaffold up,” every child, from our youngest performers to our exam groups, is encouraged to stretch their imagination and develop expressive, articulate performance skills.

Our professional-standard theatre gives pupils a space to grow as performers, directors, choreographers, designers, and technicians. As pupils progress through the school, they take on increasing responsibility for lighting, sound, set design, costumes, and backstage roles, gaining authentic hands-on experience across all areas of production.
Technology enhances Drama lessons at every stage. Pupils explore virtual set, lighting, and costume design, create AI-generated podcasts to support revision, and even develop AI-assisted costume concepts linked to exam responses. This fusion of traditional performance craft and innovative digital practice deepens understanding and expands creative possibilities.

Drama at Crosfields also champions global perspectives. Pupils study influential texts from writers such as Malorie Blackman, Wole Soyinka, and Bertolt Brecht, and they participate in specialist workshops ranging from physical theatre to scare acting. These experiences broaden their knowledge of world theatre and help foster a sense of belonging, empathy, and cultural appreciation.