Hands-on experience

In an age of instant results and ever-evolving technology, there is something profoundly valuable about creating something by hand. Ceramics, one of the world’s oldest art forms, teaches patience, resilience and creativity – qualities that remain as important today as they have been for centuries.

At St Edmund’s, we believe the arts are central to a well-rounded education. Working with clay encourages pupils to experiment, solve problems and embrace the unexpected. Every piece is unique, reflecting the imagination, craftsmanship and perseverance of its maker. These are skills that extend far beyond the art studio, nurturing confidence, curiosity and original thinking. Our Festival on the Hill showcases the rich artistic life of the school. As part of the festival, our annual Art Exhibition provides a platform for pupils to exhibit their work, celebrating the breadth of talent across St Edmund’s while inspiring younger artists to develop their own creative voice. The exhibition also incorporates the Canterbury Art Prize, welcoming entries from schools across Kent, celebrating of artistic excellence beyond our own community. 

By bringing together young artists from across the county, the Prize encourages collaboration, recognises emerging talent and reinforces the importance of creative education in an increasingly digital world.
As the world continues to evolve, subjects such as ceramics remind us that some of the most valuable skills – creativity, critical thinking, perseverance and self-expression – remain timeless. Through all these initiatives St Edmund’s is proud to champion the arts, nurturing the next generation of artists, designers and innovators.

stedmunds.org.uk

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Future ready

Saint Ronan’s has created a sector-leading subject; Digital Futures will be introduced to the timetable from September because we believe children deserve more than a subject that simply teaches them to use technology. They need to learn how to live well within a digital world: how to think critically, stay safe, manage money sensibly and understand the ethical questions that artificial intelligence and new technology raise. The old Computer Science curriculum taught useful skills, but it did not go far enough. Digital Futures brings digital competence and digital wisdom together in one coherent, progressive subject, taught weekly from Year 3 through to Year 8.

Crucially, this is not a move towards more screen time. It is the opposite. Introducing Digital Futures allows us to teach children about the digital world thoughtfully and deliberately – in short, focused lessons, rather than through everyday immersion in devices. We remain a screen-free school right through to the end of Year 8, with no 1:1 devices. That has never changed, and this new subject does not change it either.
What we hope it will achieve is simple: children who leave Saint Ronan’s understanding technology rather than being shaped by it. Children who can spot misinformation, manage a digital footprint, budget and save sensibly, and think carefully about the role technology should play in their lives, rather than have it dictate the terms.

We want children who have spent their formative years outdoors, engaged and academically stretched, arriving at senior school equipped, grounded and ready. That balance – of rigour, values and childhood protected – is what Digital Futures is designed to serve. Unashamedly Saint Ronan’s.

saintronans.co.uk