Arts Excellence

St Peter’s, Cambridge offers our students the ultimate arts experience.

Our students have an array of incredible performing arts opportunities at their fingertips. They can study music, dance and drama in a rigorous academic environment from Years 7–13. Complementing this is a vast extracurricular programme where our students are nurtured to excel in their chosen areas.

St Peter’s has always had a tradition of excellence in music. When Arthur Broadhurst founded our school in 1936, music was a core part of school life. The boys all sang and learnt multiple instruments, and Broadhurst spent time with them listening to records and bringing music to life for them. Later, celebrated composer David Farquhar continued to inspire musicians at St Peter’s. In this tradition we continue today with performing arts a core part of life at our school.

Our academic programmes in performing arts are led by a talented team of teachers who inspire our students with their passion and skill. Our students in dance, drama and music are thoroughly equipped for further study and entry into the professional performing arts industry.

Our students engage with many equally talented and inspiring coaches and tutors, who lead co-curricular activities in music, dance and drama. These leaders are established professionals and many are regular performers themselves. Their wealth of real world knowledge and experience is hugely valuable to our students. The networks that our coaches and tutors bring with them provide yet another layer to student learning, and gives us strong links to regional and national performing arts programmes.

Our arts programme is inclusive. It embraces students who prefer the classical and those who like contemporary forms of music, dance and drama. It blends traditional methods with new technology. Performing arts allows students to work in a range of settings, both as individuals and groups. It encourages them to be the best that they can be and to strive for excellence. There is something for everyone, from individualised music instruction to hip hop dance classes to our Shakespeare festival.

As in all areas of the school, performing arts students are encouraged to be aspirational. St Peter’s offers a unique performing arts experience with distinct pathways from participation to professionalism, all delivered in our fantastic facilities.