Thornden School

• An 11-16, mixed comprehensive school, with 1400 pupils on roll

• A specialist Arts College • Science - second specialism • Leading Edge status in April 2008• In 2009, 97% of pupils achieved 5 or more GCSEs

at A*-C (86% including English and Maths) • CVA score: 1027.8

Ethos• Expectation

• Excitement

• Enthusiasm

• Energy

• Excellence

How?

• Facilities

• Staff

• Opportunities

Objective 2 To enhance Arts opportunities for students by developing further activities both extra-curricular and within the Arts curriculum, including vocational courses and work related learning

Target with Outcomes Actions: how will target be achieved Timescale

Monitoring and Evaluation Finance

Performing Arts in generalExtend pupils’ understanding of vocational pathways

Extend opportunities for pupils to perform

DramaMaximise the scope of Acting Academy for extending skills and enthusiasm of KS2, KS3 and KS4 pupilsBTEC course to offer vocational training

Enhance opportunities for pupils with varied programme of productions

Enhance individual and whole cast performances through professional workshopsEnhance learning by extending teaching to include outside agencies

Extend opportunities for pupils to watch and work with professionalsRaise awareness of career opportunities in Arts

‘What’s Next?’ Careers Fair (Arts and Science)19/10/10Activities Day: range of Arts workshops for Year 8 or 9 pupils - July 2011

Drama staff + additional staff to run twilight sessions and present programme of productions (5-7 April 2011Drama staff to run Year 11 course and continue to hone teaching and learning and to run new Year 10 courseVisit to a West End Show: backstage tour and performanceProductions of ‘Pygmaliont’ (24-27 Jan 2011) and ‘’ West Side Story (13-16 July)GCSE Showcase and performance of ‘Blood Brothers’ (30/11/10)Forest Forge Company – Kirsty Davis)

Professional organisations to deliver training to support teaching of the business units in BTEC and make-up for stage performers T.I.E. groupProject with Creative Partnerships Ex pupils e.g. Francesca Bunce and Jack Purdie to speak to groups about professional training and careers in the Performing Arts

2010-2011 Pupil questionnaire used to evaluate the value

of the Careers Fair

Staff questionnaire used to evaluate day

Take-up of places and quality of performances used to evaluate effectiveness of Acting Academy

Course evaluated as part of Performance Management lesson observation process

Quality of productions used for evaluation as well as post-performance evaluation meetings

Quality of production and BTEC results used to evaluate effectiveness of workshop

Quality of coursework used to evaluate cost effectiveness

Quality of performance used to evaluate cost effectiveness

£1 000

Pupil contributions pay for coach and theatre tickets

£500

£500£500

Objective 2 To enhance Arts opportunities for students by developing further activities both extra-curricular and within the Arts curriculum, including vocational courses and work related learning

Target with Outcomes Actions: how will target be achieved Timescale

Monitoring and Evaluation Finance

EnglishTo develop pupils’ skills inreading and performing poetryTo develop pupils’ skills in scriptwriting and performance

To extend pupils’ appreciation and understanding of playwriting and performance through professional productionsTo extend opportunities for pupils to performTo extend pupils’ skills in speech writing and delivery

To extend pupils’ understanding of the craft of writing poetryTo develop pupils’ understanding of the craft of fiction writing and encourage readingTo provide pupils with a wider audience for their writing

DanceEnhance opportunities for pupils with range of performances in Thornden Hall

Year 7 Poetry Performance 15/12/10

Year 8 Drama Festival 8/6/11

TIE: Performances and workshops run by theatre companies to support Year 8 scheme of workAs above and Year 7 Theatre Trip (Dec)Year 7 Poetry Performance and Year 8 Drama FestivalYear 9 Speaking Competition 27/4/11English works with Science and R.E. to organise a debate by Year 10 pupils on Evolution vs Creation‘PoetryLive Event (Feb)

Author events arranged in conjunction with Waterstone’s and Schools’ Library Service Author events BBC News Day (for G+T Year 9 pupils)Podcast ClubLinks with ‘The Daily Echo’ online magazine for teenagers ‘The Last Dance’ 5 May 2011Hampshire Schools’ Dance Festival February 2011‘Headstart’ (Boys’ Dance)Showcase KS3 and KS4 classwork‘Glee Club’ performance

Quality of performance and scripts used to evaluate teachingStaff and pupil feedback used to evaluate professional productions and effectiveness of performances

HOD and TLR Performance post holder to monitor and evaluateQuality of performances used to monitor and evaluate teachingHODs to evaluate

Staff feedback and pupil questionnaire used to evaluate effectiveness of eventStaff feedback used to evaluate effectiveness of event

Quality of performances used to

Evaluate teaching

£500

Voluntary contributions by pupilsSponsored by

Waterstone’s

Expectations and Involvement

• Our students

• Our feeder schools

• The community

A Letter of Thanks 

To whom it may concern 

I would like to thank the Performing Arts for all they have done this year for my daughter. My expectations have been exceeded. We moved here to give my daughter the exposure to music that I thought she would enjoy. However the school has done this and more and after a performance on Saturday that sent chills down my spine, I would like to thank the Performing Arts with all my heart for picking up where I could never dream to go.I would like to thank Mrs. Becker who is extremely passionate and talented and has become so important in our lives. I would like her to know how much she has changed our lives. And although we are just small fish in a big sea, it is sometimes nice to know the little differences you make.

 Yours sincerely

  

Ideas to Take Away• Professional Facilities for those who have funds• Facilities to operate as a business which funds staffing for those facilities• Top quality ‘Specialist’ Staff• Shared office space where people can work together and relax together• Involvement of English in the Arts specialism• Snapshots of a Year – quality publication to show whole school impact• Evidence folder• Television Monitors displaying Performing Arts events in Thornden Hall and

Reception• Extended Timetable (after school) offering GCSE Performing Arts subjects• Timetabled support for feeder schools• Acting Academy• Tsing (vocal school for Thornden Students and Partner School Students)• Community Wind Band• Community Choir