September 2006 saw Parkside enter its third year as a designated Specialist School in the Performing Arts. The first two years have been highly successful in that most targets have been met and exceeded, usually well in advance of schedule. Those that have yet to be met are currently on track and I am confident that they will be reached. Consequently, we have a solid foundation on which to build for this important third year which will also see Parkside submit a bid for redesignation.
The main focus in the first two years was to embed the specialism within the Expressive Arts Faculty in order to enhance our resources and facilities. This would then aid the ‘Arts’ experience offered to the students by allowing for more opportunities to participate in the arts and also by raising achievement. Results at all levels have been extremely positive and bear witness to the success of the programme to date.
Throughout the first two years we have also run a successful Community programme which has focused on our ‘Family of Schools’. Within this we have been able to ‘share good practice’ as well as provide many opportunities for the primary school students to experience the arts. There is no doubt that these activities have also enhanced the bridging links between the primary and secondary levels.
The last six months has seen a conscious shift of focus in that I now wish to use the specialism to as a way to enhance ‘Teaching and Learning’ across the curriculum. All the initial projects have been successful and will lead us to continue with implementing similar work in the future. The following initiatives serve to highlight what has been achieved so far:
Courgette Volante Theatre Company; French Theatre production and inherent workshops for KS3 – MFL & Drama
Twisting Yarns Theatre Company; Production of ‘Entrenched!’; WW1 and the multi-cultural nature of the Allied forces; Workshops for KS4 – History, Citizenship & Drama
Twisting Yarns Theatre Company – Yr7 trip to watch ‘Life of Pi’ – English, REP, Citizenship & Drama
TIE ‘Legal Weapon’ –Safe & responsible driving; KS4 production & workshops – Citizenship & Drama
Leeds Met University/Dept. of Transport – Research project on Road Safety – KS3 practical Drama workshops – Citizenship & Drama
Big Book/EdTv project – Devising & filming of a TV programme – English, Citizenship, Enterprise, ICT, Science, Media & Drama
Whist Art and Design is strictly speaking not part of the Performing Arts specialism I feel that there is too much that the subject has in common with all the other discrete areas and should not be ignored. As a consequence I have initially ring fenced a significant sum of money for projects which will provide further opportunities for student to experience and participate whilst helping to raise achievement
A large sum of Specialist Schools' money has been allocated in order to enhance the Reception/foyer, canteen and Theatre foyer. This will include the installation of several large plasma screens which can be used as a means to celebrate and showcase students work and also act as information centres
In addition, the following initiatives have also been instigated this academic year:
We have initiated a restructuring of the Peripatetic music service and introduced our Music Scholarship scheme – Both partially financed through Specialist Schools; More students than before have participated in the peripatetic scheme whilst even more students are given the opportunity to play through the scholarship system
Specialist Schools has managed to upgrade the equipment within Music. This has included work on the Recording Studio, two new electronic pianos, an extra computer and printer and the purchase of a twenty-piece Samba kit. The latter is linked to raising boys’ achievement by initially recruiting from male students. It is anticipated that this will be a popular option and it is envisaged that the band will grow in numbers and will be of mixed gender.
Further computers and related software have also been purchased to support the introduction of an A level Music Technology course
Dance has been able to run several workshops focusing on Street Dance as a way of gaining the interest of boys in particular. These were very successful and more are planned for the future. Indeed, the number of students opting for Dance at GCSE has increased and at the last count, nine boys have chosen to do the subject!
Dance worked in conjunction with the Northern Ballet Theatre Company, hosting a workshop on stage fighting linked to their production of ‘The Three Musketeers’. This was another initiative to popularise dance and again focused on boys participating. The partnership also included a visit to the Alhambra to watch the NBT performance
Specialist Schools has supported Drama in several projects already this year. This has included a KS4 workshop with Pilot Theatre and two visits to The York Theatre Royal to watch ‘Sing yer ‘earts out for the lads!’. As well as exploring pertinent social issues, the project has also encouraged the acquisition of relevant performing skills
At Post 16, Specialist Schools has subsidised a trip to the WYPH to see ‘Macbeth’. This will also include a tour of the set and a meeting with the Director and cast. It is expected that this opportunity will help raise their achievement as it is directly linked with Unit 3 of the A2 course
We have engaged Sean Jones to work with our KS4 Drama students on the set text ‘Blood Brothers’. Sean has for several years toured with the company, playing Mickey, one of the main parts. His experience is invaluable and will give the students a unique insight into all aspects of the play helping to raise their achievement
Through Specialist Schools we have purchased a new digital lighting desk for use in the Theatre. This will afford students the opportunity to gain real ‘hands on experience’ with the technical side of Drama giving them further understanding of the mechanics of performance. We have also ordered extra lighting equipment and two more wireless remote microphones to enhance and assist performance
Due to Parkside’s status as a Specialist School I now coordinate and chair the Bradford Drama Network. This has enabled us to share our good practice with schools across the authority and to date it has been received in a very positive manner.
I have also helped to coordinate the planning and implementation of the Confederation Training day. As well as providing our excellent facilities for Dance and Drama, I have offered to help pay for visiting external agencies who will provide a focus for the day by providing meaningful practical workshops
Our staff and their respective development are vital to the specialism and as a result money has been made available for INSET. This has included valuable training for several members of the teaching staff as well as continued training support for our technician
Through the Specialist Schools I have been able to further share good practice through the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Network. Obviously this has been a reciprocated initiative. This is enhanced through our participation in the National Network and its main conference
Mike Fleetwood
Arts College Director
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