Empowering Young Musicians: Expanding Access to Music at Ark Blake
At Ark Blake, we are dedicated to offering a diverse and enriching extracurricular program that nurtures creativity and musical talent. Thanks to the generous support of the Humphrey Richardson Taylor Charitable Trust (HRTCT), we can provide extensive music education to our students at an affordable cost. The Trust is committed to making music accessible to all, supporting initiatives that foster creativity and personal growth through musical education.
Our current extracurricular program includes Singing Club, Guitar Club, Ukulele Club, and Music Technology Club, along with the recent and exciting addition of three Steel Pan Groups, made possible by HRTCT. This opportunity is especially cherished by students who began learning steel pans in primary school, as they can now continue to develop their skills in secondary education. Looking ahead, we hope some students will pursue one-to-one steel pan tuition to refine their technique and deepen their musical abilities.
At Ark Blake, 48 students from Years 7 to 11 are currently receiving instrumental lessons, benefiting from the school's commitment to accessible music education. This opportunity, supported by HRTCT, allows students to develop their musical skills and deepen their passion for music, ensuring they receive high-quality tuition regardless of their background.
With 51% of our student body eligible for Pupil Premium, Ark Blake has one of the highest percentages for a secondary school in East Croydon. This reality underscores the importance of expanding instrumental tuition, ensuring that young people from all backgrounds have the chance to experience the transformative power of music. We strongly believe in music’s ability to inspire and uplift, and we hope to secure further support to bring these opportunities to as many students as possible. HRTCT's mission aligns perfectly with this vision—ensuring that every child, regardless of their circumstances, has access to high-quality musical education.
Music Tech Club
Guitar Club
Singing Club
We offer a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities for students who want to develop their musical skills and abilities beyond the classroom curriculum.
As well as individual instrumental lessons available to all students, we also run a vibrant collection of musical ensembles. These give students the opportunity to collaborate with other musicians and in doing so to develop their performance skills and enthusiasm for music. We are always looking for ways to expose our students to live music, including visits to the theatre and to concerts.
All students involved in music at Ark Blake Academy are given regular opportunities to perform in front of others, both as individuals and with the various groups. This helps students develop their performance skills, as well as their confidence and ability as musicians.
