Creative arts and performing arts

Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) includes dance, drama, music, photography and visual arts. At Tempe High School, it is compulsory for all Year 7 students to study drama, music and visual arts, with Year 8 students completing visual arts as well. Students can also select from a range of creative arts and performing arts electives in Stages 5 and 6. The creative arts and performing arts develop skills in communication, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration, as well as skills specific to different art forms. Creative arts and performing arts subjects are very practical in nature with the theoretical aspects weaved into the practical experiences.

Why creative and performing arts?

‘The Future of Education and Skills: Education 2030’ is a study that looks at the skills students need in the future. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD, 2018) came up with a learning framework for students to be successful in the future – all of them are skills developed in the creative and performing arts (CAPA) These included confidence, creative thinking, critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, flexibility, adaptability, organisation, and planning. On top of this, the arts are widely shown to develop empathy, community, and a sense of identity in young people, which helps them feel engaged with their learning and able to contribute to the community successfully.

Opportunities

At Tempe High School there are many opportunities associated with the creative and performing arts. The faculty strives to ensure that all students get practical, hands on, industry level experience as they progress through their education. Some of the opportunities in CAPA include:

Students performing in a school concert band on stage, led by a conductor, in a large auditorium with an organ backdrop.
Students performing a choreographed dance routine on stage during Tempe High Creativity Week event.
Students sitting on stage steps in a school auditorium, preparing for a creative arts rehearsal with a laptop and notebooks.
Students playing saxophones in a school band performance, seated with music stands and sheet music in the auditorium.
Students performing a music ensemble on stage at Tempe High Creativity Week, playing violin and woodwind instruments.

CAPA facilities & support

A display of students’ charcoal drawings on a classroom wall for a Year 10 art project.
Students performing a group dance on stage in the school hall, watched by classmates in the audience.
Students standing on stage in a school Students standing on stage in a school drama performance under theatrical lighting and decorative branches.
Student playing bass guitar and singing on stage during a school music competition.
Student-made ceramic animal sculptures displayed in the art classroom for a school project.
Students performing as a band on stage during a Year 7 music competition in the school hall.
Students sitting together on stage during a Students sitting together on stage during a drama activity, preparing props and food for a performance.
Student-created ceramic animal models displayed in the Student-created ceramic animal models displayed in the art classroom for a school project.

Stage 4 (Years 7 and 8)

Students learn skills and ideas specific to each art form, which helps them develop a deep understanding of the impact the arts have on our society and the ways in which it can help them in their own education. The subjects students complete include:

Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10)

Students can pick CAPA subjects as an elective in Year 9 and 10. These include:

  • Dance
  • Drama
  • Music
  • PHDM (Photography and digital media)
  • Visual arts.

Stage 6 (Years 11 and 12)

Students can pick CAPA subjects as an elective towards their HSC. These include:

  • Dance
  • Drama
  • Entertainment industry (VET)
  • Music 1
  • Music 2
  • Music extension
  • PVDI (Photography, video and digital imaging)
  • Visual arts.

For more information on the syllabus and curriculum for creative arts and performing arts courses, please see the NSW Curriculum secondary (7–10) syllabuses and NSW Curriculum Senior (11–12) syllabuses or contact the school directly.

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