Ralph Thoresby High School serves the Holt Park area of Leeds, according to Ofsted “the performing arts make a strong impact” on our being a “strong and effective school.”

Our arts based enrichment activities place students in situations that encourage joint ownership of the learning process, a genuine partnership, with the teacher and/or creative professional acting as the catalyst. Consequently, students adopt a more responsible role for their learning and develop a sense of direction with clearer pathways for achieving their goals. This has a positive effect on their self-esteem as they take pride in their achievements both during and at the end of projects.

Students develop skills in mentoring, being able to share their experiences and guiding other students in their own exploration. They also develop critical skills that increase the quality of their own and other students’ work. They are able to discuss the direction and plan the way forward with confidence and skill. They show a creative ability in finding different routes to solve problems, often learning new skills on the way.

The focus for the work in ‘Rock Challenge’ was to offer exactly these opportunities, to transfer the experience and new skills learnt to the classroom, thereby enhancing the quality of the learning process across the curriculum.

www. ralphthoresby.leeds.sch.uk