Arts

Every generation of Kent College students goes on to shape the future in some way. Confidence in creativity, rigour and discipline in practice, and a comfort with risks, mistakes and experimentation comes from KC’s creative and performing arts broad offer. An offer that is taught by actual practitioners – trained dancers, published authors, opera singers, musicians, costume designers, artists, photographers and graphic designers.

Creative Arts

Fine Art - From our purpose built spacious art studios students produce high quality work using a range of equipment and materials. We offer painting, printmaking and ceramics and have a fully equipped kiln room.

Photography - Photography is taught at A level and is a popular choice for creative students. The department has professional equipment and software, with a darkroom and studio lighting area for shoots.

Textiles - Students have expert tuition in both surface design and construction. The rooms are well equipped with industry standard machines and sublimation printing facilities. The department also runs the popular annual Young Fashion Designer award.

Music

Our dedicated music centre is where musical talent thrives under the direction of talented teachers. Performance is an integral part of musicianship and students are encouraged to take part in events including an Open Mic Night, black tie Opera Gala and musical drama productions.

Numerous and varied orchestras, choirs, bands and instrumental groups ensure pupils across the school perform together, and instrumental and singing teachers provide tuition for many KC pupils.

Drama

Drama is at the heart of KC school life. The whole school productions include pupils from Year 6 to the Upper Sixth and are West End standard. Recent musical theatre productions include Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, The Secret Garden and Phantom of the Opera. Plays have included a Scholar's production of Medea and Parable of the Banished. Each year, pupils in Year's 7-9 perform a summer play.

Performances take place in the Countess of Wessex Theatre (named after KC Old Girl) which is a modern 200 seat venue with a large stage, orchestra pit and professional technical control box. Pupils have the opportunity to perform, be part of the stage and technical crew, make up, set design and costumes.

Dance

Dance is taught in our dedicated dance studio and in the Countess of Wessex Theatre. It part of the curriculum from Year 7 and practiced across the whole school. There are clubs for ballet, contemporary dance, street dance as well as a junior dance company.

The annual KC Dance Showcase allows all dancers and scholars to perform their work and they also have the opportunity to be part of the troupes that are integral to the whole school productions.

our productions

Pupils across the school from Prep to Sixth Form have the opportunity to be a part of our first class productions. Talented actors, musicians, dancers and singers collaborate with technical and stage crews to deliver West End standard performances. Beyond this Art pupils and staff help create the set, Textiles students take charge of some of the costumes and Food Tech pupils helped create realistic pies for Sweeney Todd. There a role for everyone who wants to participate.

scholarships

Creative and Performing Arts Scholarships are available in Art, Dance, Drama and Music to talented candidates who join the school at Year 7, Year 9 and Sixth Form. These are prestigious awards with outstanding scholarship programmes.

Further information on the individual scholarships can be found in the Admissions Handbook or click here for our Scholarships page.

To apply for a Scholarship in one of the Creative Arts, please click here.