Art School

Course

In Maidenhead

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    Course

  • Location

    Maidenhead

Facilities

Location

Start date

Maidenhead (Berkshire)
Littlewick Green, SL6 3QY

Start date

On request

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Course programme

An Introduction To The Day School

We offer a unique co-educational Independent Day School (Year 5 to GCSE) providing an outstanding performing arts curriculum combined with a sound academic education.

Many boys and girls join our school after attending once-a-week classes either at Redroofs or elsewhere, and often have displayed a clear commitment to an arts-oriented education.

How do you know if this is the right school for your child?

We do not set up open days to advertise what we can offer for your son or daughter, Instead, we welcome parents and prospective pupils to visit us “in action” on a working day, to meet with the Headteacher and to sense a little of what we are about. A performance in progress!

All prospective pupils will be invited to participate in the life of the school for a full day, meeting his/her potential friends, participating in the classes of the day and taking in a little of what we are about. Only then will he/she truly know if this is the right school.

Whilst sports and gym are not a part of our curriculum, the extensive range of dance and drama classes and regular productions offer a challenging physical curriculum developing coordination, strong team spirit and camaraderie.

We do of course have an anti-bullying policy but rarely have cause to refer pupils to it. Our pupils are by nature tolerant of individuality; encouraging of each others talents, and spur each other on through “audition” disappointments or personal difficulties.

Whilst we operate in a competitive world, our pupils are not encouraged to compare themselves against each other and we expect each pupil to achieve his/her best both in the arts and in academic lessons, whatever that best may be. The majority of our pupils are academically able. However, we also encourage less academic children with a strong arts leaning, and have seen an extraordinary academic “turnaround” in children who have not thrived elsewhere, endorsing that “if a child is happy he will learn”. (If your child has particular needs, please advise us on application).

We do not offer a sixth form. For those looking to continue to train as actors we offer a 2 year Screen-Acting school with Musical Theatre option; many of our dancers are accepted into first-choice dance colleges, and those looking to continue their academic studies opt for sixth forms at either state colleges or independent schools. We know our pupils well and can guide this on an individual basis.

We believe that our pupils are our own best advertisement.

There are three terms per year.

The Day School Curriculum

The majority of our pupils sit 8-9 GCSE's.

Theatre School is not a "soft option". Our pupils are expected to apply the same commitment to their academic studies as they do to their creative curriculum and an all-round professional attitude is expected throughout the school. All pupils, whatever their ability, are expected to work hard in all subjects, and as the curriculum already leans heavily towards the arts we do not offer options at GCSE.

Our school day begins with Lesson 1 at 8.15am and comprises eight 45 minute lessons. The Lower School (Juniors, Years 7 & 8) study academic subjects during lessons 1 - 4 and vocational lessons during lessons 5 - 8. The Upper School (Years 9 - 11) study vocational subjects during lessons 1 - 4 and academic subjects during lessons 5 - 8.

Vocational studies

At set times during the school year we hold specialist vocational weeks when the normal timetable is suspended to allow a focus on vocational training. Recent vocational weeks have included a 3-day stage combat workshop, master classes with West End performers, choreography competitions, costume design and inter-house productions.

From time to time the school holds internal competitions to encourage new talents to come forward. The competition results in a Cup and in cases of outstanding achievement an outlet will be found for work produced. We are delighted that pupils have found these talents and as a result of our competitions have gone on to work professionally in these fields. This is also an opportunity for organisational and leadership skills to develop.

Many of our pupils write, compose and produce plays outside of school hours. As a small school and a lively artistic community we actively encourage this development and the pupils have on numerous occasions staged their own full-scale musicals for charities and fund-raising at the Novello Theatre.

Pupils follow a curriculum which may comprise ballet, jazz, tap, modern, dance, musical theatre, singing (choir and individual repertoire), improvisation, text study, rehearsals, master classes and examination coaching.

Academic Studies

Academic subjects are taught in small, mixed-ability groups according to age. Junior pupils are taught primarily by their class teacher whilst Years 7 to 11 are taught by subject specialists. The curriculum comprises English, Maths, Science, Geography, History, French, Art, Drama and PHSE. The majority of Year 11 pupils sit 8-9 GCSE's. From time to time we welcome outside speakers into the school and our weekly assembly offers an opportunity to reflect upon current affairs and moral and ethical issues and to support our PHSE curriculum.

Assessment and Examinations

Pupils are assessed each term in all subjects - vocational and academic. In the Autumn and Spring Terms, parents receive a Pupil Report Card upon which grades are recorded for effort and attainment.

In the Summer Term pupils sit internal academic examinations and written notification of the results are sent home in a detailed Annual Report. All pupils also sit externally based National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) tests. This tests allows us to measure our pupils' progress against nationally recognised standards and to predict GCSE outcomes for individual pupils. Parents are invited to attend the Vocational Assessments which also take place in the Summer Term at the Novello Theatre.

In Year 11, pupils sit Mock GCSE Examinations in the January prior to the external examinations in May and June. Parents receive a written report containing the results of the Mock Examinations. Entry fees for external examinations are in addition to the school fees.

Throughout the school year pupils are entered as appropriate for the Grade and Major Examinations of the Royal Academy of Dance and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance. These are a compulsory part of their training and fees are payable as extras.

Day School- Dance And Musical Theatre Department

We pride ourselves on an exceptional standard of dance and musical theatre. Our theatre dance curriculum includes, classical ballet [RAD syllabus] Modern and Tap[ISTD syllabus], non syllabus Jazz dance classes , Singing lessons and musical theatre weekly workshops.

Dance

Dance classes are graded according to ability and in doing this each pupil is able to work at his/her own level.

We aim to allow each pupil to fulfil their dance potential. There are opportunities for performances in our own theatres in school shows and for selected suitable pupils in our yearly pantomime at the Novello theatre.
Children are also encouraged to explore and create dance and we hold choreographic competitions.

We hold musical theatre and dance workshops where children work with invited leading West End artistes and guest choreographers, therefore learning dance and musical theatre repertoire from current shows. The pupils are inspired by these artistes many of whom received their early training at Redroofs.

Dance Examinations

Our RAD and ISTD examination results rank among the highest in the world and our teachers are qualified and highly experienced. We hold regular sessions generally twice yearly.

Classical Ballet

Our pupils follow the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus through grade and majors. More advanced pupils study pointe work.

Tap Modern and Jazz

We enter pupils Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance [ISTD ] exams through grades and majors . Jazz classes are non syllabus based and we endeavour to incorporate current jazz dance styles in these classes thereby keeping up with latest dance styles and trends.

Musical Theatre

Pupils train in weekly musical theatre workshops where they study excerpts from musical theatre shows embracing many different styles .These generally culminate in performances in our theatres or as workshop productions in our studio spaces. In these classes, pupils work in groups where they merge all theatre studies dance , song and drama.

Choir

Pupils study ensemble singing, including and introducing harmony work.
Selected singers take part in regular performances raising money for charity and gaining valuable experience in a wide variety of venues. Over the past few years , these performances have included TV and radio appearances and concerts in hotels, old peoples homes ,hospitals , clubs, corporate events and theatres.

Art School

Price on request