Community
As part of our specialist status, Forest Hill School provides an extensive programme of non-statutory arts education benefiting children and young people from local primary, secondary and special schools, as well as individuals and groups (including businesses and services) from within the wider community.
We aim to work collaboratively with schools in order to provide or facilitate high-quality learning opportunities in our specialist subjects (music, dance & drama) and raise standards of teaching and learning.
We are currently working in partnership with Millwall Community Scheme to develop a two-year music education programme for 13-16 year olds, which is funded by Youth Music.
If you have a query or would like more information about any aspect of our wider community work, or are interested in establishing a wider community partnership, please contact the Community Performing Arts Team on 0208 613 8422/8423.
Would you like to receive information about our future community events and activities by email? If yes then simply email p_arts@foresthill.lewisham.sch.uk putting E-FHS in the subject bar.
Performing Arts
Click on a project to find out what's going on.
It Kickz Community Music Project
Funding has been secured from Youth Music to continue and develop the It Kickz Music Project, which launched as a pilot in January 2010. It now takes the form of a 2 year, out-of-school hours FREE music education programme for 13-16 year olds living or attending school in Forest Hill or Sydenham.The programme, which is delivered in partnership with Millwall Community Scheme, provides participants with opportunities to access free instrumental tuition, creative music training and gain a nationally recognised Arts Award qualification. It also develops their music, performance & leadership skills, as well as providing opportunities for them to take part in collaborative and outreach projects with children and young people as well as offering opportunities for progression into music industry careers.
Programme sessions take place on Fridays between 5.30pm – 7.00pm at Forest Hill School.
For more information please email itkickz@hotmail.co.uk or telephone Craig Coggle on 020 8613 8484
Forest Fest – FHS Flagship Community Arts Festival
Forest Fest is an annual community arts festival held at Forest Hill School. Originally launched in 2009 attracting in excess of 2,000 visitors, it continued to grow and develop last year with 3,900 visitors and this year saw in excess of 4,300 people attend.
The festival aims to promote social cohesion by bringing together diverse sections of the community as audience members, programme contributors and festival partners, providing them with opportunities to showcase and celebrate their artistic talents as well as raising awareness of local services and service providers.
The 2011 event had a varied programme of entertainment, which included live music, dance, and drama performances from local home-grown talent, an array of creative workshops for all ages, art installations, a market place combining a mix of arts sales and information, food and refreshments, plus traditional summer fete activities.
Forest Fest provides members of the local community with opportunities to enjoy, experience and participate in the arts, all within a fun, entertaining and vibrant family atmosphere.
Watch this space for next year’s date or contact us on forestfest@hotmail.co.uk.
An intergenerational visual arts project exploring the identities/histories of senior citizens and what it means to be old as revealed and/or concealed by skin with Year 12 & 13 FHS students and Senior Grove Centre day visitors & club participants.
The project culminated in an exhibition of all participants’ art work at the Stephen Lawrence Centre as part of Lewisham’s first ever Intergenerational Festival.
“The project has been a wonderful experience for the students & elders. It has allowed all participants to gain insight into each other’s lives & has challenged many stereotypes, creating a more understanding & stronger community”. Rebecca Glover, FHS Art Teacher.
“It was a terrific exhibition. Clearly the young and old working creatively together was both a great learning experience and great fun”. David Savill, Artist Director Age Exchange.
A pilot public art project with FHS students from Rockbourne and Bellingham Youth Clubs, exploring what it means to be a father and issues connected with teenage fatherhood. In collaboration with Lewisham Youth Service and the charity Working with Men.
Look out for more details coming soon about the continuation of this project.
This was a 5 week intergenerational music project exploring and drawing on participants’ musical interests/influences and memories as inspiration for the creation of music for performance with Year 12 Music BTEC students and St Christopher’s Hospice day patients.
The project successfully increased/improved knowledge, understanding and appreciation of each others’ musical preferences & life experiences, increased cohesion and confidence.
“The final performance was both moving and joyful and the efforts of everyone that took part brought some real brightness into the lives of family members and participants alike” Craig Coggle, FHS Senior Music Specialist.
The dance department have been kept on their toes creating opportunities for Brent Knoll students to discover dance and its profession.
BK Boys Dance was a seven-week after school boys' dance performance project with KS3 Brent Knoll students. It aimed to expose students to a new art form, foster creativity, engagement & ownership, develop focus, concentration, social & team- working skills and enhance confidence. Students had the opportunity to visit Pineapple Dance Studios in London, and several chances to showcase their performance piece to large audiences.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was Forest Hill School’s third musical. Building on the huge success of Oliver! and The Wiz before it, Joseph saw a huge community participation from our local primary schools and special school.
We welcomed to the stage 30 primary school dancers, 11 special school dancers and 89 primary school singers.
A 6 week peer mentoring music technology project with Year 5 students from St Michael Primary School and Year 10 FHS music technology students.
Benefits for Year 5 Students:
- Increased knowledge & understanding of musical form
- Technical skills
- Opportunities to express & develop creativity
- Improved social skills
- Increased access to professional ICT facilities & learning enrichment
Benefits for Year 10 Students:
- Increased experience & development of peer mentoring skills
- Improved communication & planning skills
- Evaluation of Computer Music Guide
- Enhanced music technology understanding & skill
- Support achievement of BTEC Level 2 qualifications criteria
Developing Classroom Music Activities
A two-term programme of CPD to help develop music teaching practice & curriculum delivery across St Michael’s school for nine St Michael’s teachers.
Year 8 Gifted & Talented Drama Club
Now in its seventh year, this annual after-school programme for gifted and talented students from Sydenham and Forest Hill Schools goes from strength to strength. The club provides participants with advanced drama skills training and opportunities to access challenging new drama texts and also includes theatre visits.
For more information please speak to Ms Montague-Gibson (FHS drama teacher)