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Creative Arts students see Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras rehearse Verdi Requiem

Students and staff from St Clement Danes School attended the Watford Colosseum on Friday 14th September to see the rehearsal of Verdi Requiem by the highly acclaimed Monteverdi Choirs and Orchestras. The rehearsal was in advance of the Choir's performance at Westminster Cathedral on Tuesday 18th September, and our students felt privileged to be invited to the rehearsal, along with students from other local schools.

The Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists & Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique are three world-renowned ensembles conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner, who founded the choir in 1964.

The concert marked twenty years since the orchestra's last London performance of Verdi’s work – and was the only UK date on a European tour that will visit a roster of major venues; opening at the National Forum of Music in Wroclaw to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Poland.

Miss Stevens reported that the students were fascinated to hear about the life of a musician and the amazing opportunities that they have - to travel the world and play the most wonderful music in such awesome venues. Miss Stevens said " Seeing John Elliot-Gardner in action was mesmerising. His attention to detail and his relationship with the orchestra and choir was inspiring."

Please follow the link below to read the report about the Verdi Requiem Performance, and further information about the Monteverdi Choir.

https://monteverdi.co.uk/verdi-requiem-2018

 

 

 

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30th January

Teachers commended for transforming Design & Technology education

We were delighted to read that our Design and Technology teachers, Miss Yalley and Mr Hadley were featured in the Design and Technology publication.  The article discusses the transformation of the Design & Technology (D&T) department at St. Clement Danes School over the past five years. It discusses how Mr Hadley and Miss Yalley took ownership of the subject, implementing a new subject ethos based on trust, excellence, respect, and safety to foster student responsibility and independence. Key Initiatives & Changes Revamping Projects & Curriculum Introduced more challenging design projects at earlier years (Years 8 & 9). Shifted focus to design skills, problem-solving, and justifying choices over just practical outcomes. Prioritized quality over quantity in student projects. Notable projects: Year 7: Robot concepts Year 8: Articulated lamps Year 9: Branded dispensers & modular speakers Encouraging Inclusion & Diversity Created a girls-only club to boost female participation in GCSE Product Design. Sixth-form girls mentor younger students, building confidence and community. Design Ventura Competition Integrated mock coursework with the Design Ventura competition. Encouraged teamwork and prototyping to improve engagement. Use of AI & Technology Introduced cloud-based tools to make learning more accessible. Leveraged AI for idea development and communication. Professional Development & Industry Links Participating in the Teachers in Residence program to gain industry insights. Adopted industry models like the Double Diamond Design Process and Scrum-based project sprints to enhance student learning. Established workshops with industry professionals to inspire students, especially girls, to pursue design careers. Key Takeaways for Educators Adapt curriculum to student needs and school culture. Pilot new initiatives as clubs first to gauge student interest. Encourage student feedback to refine teaching methods. Be open to change and continuously evolve teaching strategies. The article ultimately encourages educators to embrace creativity, experimentation, and student collaboration in D&T education. We are very proud of our teachers for their continued hard work and dedication for each of their subject areas. Congratulations to Mr Hadley and Miss Yalley for their inspiring article and the incredible work they’ve done to transform Design & Technology at St. Clement Danes! Their dedication to fostering creativity, inclusion, and industry connections is truly commendable, and their impact on students will undoubtedly be long-lasting.