Welcome to the Performing Arts department

We promote a ‘Proud to Perform’ subject ethos

Performing Arts team

Music
Mr R Ware

Drama
Miss S Cox & Mrs I Greenslade

Dance
Miss G Harding

Instrumental tutors

Mr S Pritchard, Mrs R Rothwell, Mrs M Bearman, Miss A Conner
Miss A Ruddock , Mr S Porter , Mr R Harwood , Miss E Bergersen,
Mr M Ottaway, Mrs R Carter

Vision

The Appleton School our Performing Arts department fosters a main mission statement of ‘Proud to Perform’. We are aiming for all students of all abilities to participate in a full, balanced and varied Performing Arts programme giving them the confidence to attain examination success above the national average through a committed and dedicated team of arts specialists providing quality education through co-operation with students.

Creativity across the Curriculum

Participating in successful Performing Arts experiences can help to develop and support student’s achievement and potential. The appreciation of and participation in Performing Arts, if valued and embedded across the curriculum, can raise students self-esteem and confidence, raise standards and attainment, improve the quality of learning and teaching, provide additional learning opportunities for all students. Everyone is creative, all students possess the ability to develop artistic skills; to use creative thinking as a key to unlock learning, make new discoveries, realise ideas and intentions, express opinions, judgments, and feelings (emotions), offer solutions, make sense of their surroundings, and inspire others to achieve their goals through creative endeavor.

The Appleton School intends to nurture the creative potential of each student by placing the following aims and objectives at the heart of the curriculum: -

Aims

1. To enrich the quality of life of individual students, of the school itself and of the wider community.
2. To provide opportunities for each student to see, hear and participate in a range of creative experiences.
3. To develop and increasing awareness of and understanding of different cultures through the arts.
4. To foster the capacity for flexible and imaginative thought, to formulate and communicate ideas and feelings, to perfect physical and perceptual skills.
5. To provide a channel for self-expression and creative energy.
6. To provide opportunities for students to fulfill personal potential and talent and celebrate achievement.

Objectives

1. To provide the widest possible curriculum breadth in the delivery of the arts curriculum at both Key Stages.
2. To provide an ordered atmosphere where the arts curriculum is appropriate and carefully structured, consisting of clearly defined tasks leading to perceived and understood goals.
3. To provide a wide range of enrichment activities within the extended curriculum.
4. To adopt a wide definition of the arts: in music from classical to jazz, rock and pop, and similarly within each arts area.
5. To enable those students who wish to pursue a particular talent or creative ability, with support and guidance, taking advantage of any additional learning opportunities.
6. To encourage participation through public performances at all levels, including internal and external performances.
7. To recognise students’ contributions to the arts through the awarding of colours and half colours and to provide opportunities to succeed through the arts roll of honour displayed in each area.
8. To provide and encourage a wide experience of differing cultures through the variety of different media studied.
9. To provide a system of instrument and vocal tuition that is wide ranging, effective and accessible to all.
10. To ensure that students leave school with a grounding in the arts, which can be carried through into adult life, allowing them to participate in the arts 9both actively and as discerning audience), engaged in the outgoing process of life-long learning.

The potential for creativity within individuals, groups, classes, partner schools and the community must be recognised and nurtured; The Arts have a unique place in the educational framework, allowing people of different abilities, ages, and cultures to create work together, or on a common theme. The Arts promote learning within and beyond conventional educational structures and forms of assessment; for some students the Arts can offer a rare opportunity to experience success and engage in self-expression. The visual impact of an exhibition or performance can be an up-lifting shared experience that promotes all that is positive about being a creative human being within a community as part of society. The Arts can act as a focus for channeling physical energy away from forms of anti-social behavior, into a meaningful contribution to the creativity of the school and wider community, which does not need to shy away from tackling real issues at the heart of student’s lives. We live in a society of cultural and racial diversity in which we all need to understand, respect, live and work with others. Through participation in creative activities, students can learn how to work as a team, develop, develop listening skills and understand other people’s points of views, respond to these views through group discussion, the written word, or role play, take responsibility, lead and organise other students, and share their knowledge and skills to help others learn.

All students should be given equal access to Arts-based opportunities and use of facilities. All students should be given the opportunity to excel in their endeavors, and develop their creative potential. All students should be given the opportunity to show their work to an audience and celebrate their achievement with others, in a range of venues. No student should be excluded from any activity, or limited in their progress because of ability, gender, physical or mental impairment, economic situation, or transport difficulties. At The Appleton School the Arts are taught in mixed-ability classes at KS3 and KKs4, with additional opportunities for inclusion projects and Gifted and Talented students.

The Arts are currently enjoying a high profile within education and society in general; no longer seen as only relevant to leisure and entertainment, the Arts contribute towards a strong economy and a skilled and flexible workforce. The Arts are seen as a vital component in the development of a student’s creative skills and the positive promotion of a healthy community. There are more opportunities than ever for schools to establish and develop partnerships with Galleries, Museums, and Theatres, who are themselves developing education programmes to make their work and collections more accessible and relevant to a young audience.

Performing Arts in a Business and Enterprise College

The Appleton School’s designation as a Business and Enterprise College has enabled the school to extend its involvement with Arts practitioners in the Arts subjects and across the curriculum, during and beyond the school day. Increased funding for Art-based projects has enabled the school to implement a regular programme of workshops and industry day events to promote ‘creativity across the curriculum’. This gives students at The Appleton School the opportunity to work on specialist ‘arts’ projects including cross-curricular activities involving the school’s partner The Arcadia Group, arts practitioners and the wider community. In addition, the Area Advisors for Visual and Performing Arts have responsibility for raising the profile of the Arts across the curriculum, and together they work collaboratively to establish the Arts as a driving force within out family of schools and the local community.

Artists in the community

Working with Arts practitioners does not just provide students with the opportunity to take part in arts activities; individual artist and Arts organisations can change people’s perceptions and understanding of the importance of the Arts as a facilitator of relevant, meaningful and enjoyable learning experiences. Arts practitioners can offer new ways of expanding cultural diversity, show flexibility and adaptability by responding to ideas with new approaches, work with children and adults in an informal way, respond to social as well as educational needs, and offer insights into the role of artists/performers and the valuable contributions they can make to a community.

Accommodation

All arts areas at The Appleton School use ICT to enhance the teaching and presentation of their subjects. Students are encouraged to use the extensive facilities at The Appleton School, which include ICT facilities in music, 2 drama studios, a television studio and control room, a ceramics workshop with kiln and two discrete graphics studios in Art, digital cameras, scanners printers and internet research for researching contemporary practice. The students can access ICT facilities in 17 sites around the school, including the school library. The Business and Enterprise College designation has allowed us to support the funding of interactive whiteboards and air-conditioned ICT suites. The profile of the Arts is raised through good communication with parents and the community. Events and exhibitions, video and photographic records of events, websites and newsletters will be a constant reminder of the learning opportunities available to our partner schools and the community, initiated and resourced by The Appleton School. The Area Advisors for Visual and Performing Arts also attend a number of local and regional Arts forums; establishing formal and informal networks is a successful way of sharing ideas and resources, establishing collaborative projects and maximising opportunities.

Our designation as a Business and Enterprise College has enable us to direct funds into the refurbishment of the Drama studio and redevelopment of the Music Department to include ICT facilities with excellent resources and the latest software equipment. The Business and Enterprise College funds have also given the opportunity to provide other subjects in the school with additional equipment and resources, such as 2 new graphics suites and ICT facilities in Art.

The new facilities have made it possible for the Arts to increase its extended learning opportunities and out-of-hours provision; allowing the Arts at The Appleton School to capitalise upon these opportunities for our students, students from our partner schools, the wider community through Adult Education courses, and community groups through organised workshops/projects.

At The Appleton School we believe it is very important that students have numerous opportunities to unlock talent and creativity through enjoyable activities, which provide them with skills that transfer into every aspect of learning, thus enhance their accomplishments across the curriculum. The commitment to the Arts at The Appleton School is reflected in the broad range of courses available at Key Stage 4 and further learning opportunities for students at Key Stage 3 to experience Dance and Media Arts. The result is a productive learning environment and a positive ethos that fosters high achievement in every aspect of school life.

Curriculum 2009 and Cross-Curricular lenses

From September 2009, our new Year 7 students will be following the revised scheme of work programme in line with the curriculum developments 2008. Our schemes of work have been revised to incorporate subject specific developments and also ensuring that our designated cross curricular lense ‘creativity and critical thinking’ is at the heart of teaching and learning in Performing Arts.