Performing Arts

We are coming to the end of our second year of Specialist Status for the Performing Arts and what a year it has been for us! Last year we watched the new building rise up slowly out of the old swimming pool, anticipating the opportunities that would arrive with its completion. This year we have been able to begin to take advantage of these opportunities and they have been many. The theatre at Borlase is never empty, which is wonderful and exactly the way it should be. The demand on the space is testament to how much this resource was needed by school and the community and we are very grateful to everyone who contributed to making it possible.

With the opening of the new recording studio and Music suites we have been able to introduce Music Technology A Level which has already proved popular with the students and brought new skills and talents to the foreground. We have also been able to give Sixth Form students the opportunity to study the Technical Theatre A level. This course is very practical and has trained an excellent team of students in stage management, sound and lighting to support the theatre technically, while gaining valuable skills and qualifications.

The arrival of Dance on the curriculum has made an enormous impact on the arts and on the school as a whole. This is very much due to the enthusiasm and professionalism of our new Head of Dance, Claire Brady. Years 7, 8 and 9 pupils all study Dance and we have GCSE and A Level students producing work of an outstanding quality. The year 7 Elements project involved every single member of year 7 taking part in a contemporary dance representing elements from the periodic table they were studying in Science. The Dance was framed by the A level dancers representing oxygen reacting with the other elements. There are Dance ensembles popping up everywhere at school and this can only have a positive impact on all our students and their appreciation of the arts and how to work together. Ben Smith, our first male A level dancer has led boys’ Hip Hop throughout the year and this has enthused many others to develop their talent. We had our first House Dance competition this year which was a great success.

Drama and Music continue to thrive and this year saw the departments working closely together on a number of extra curricular ventures. One of the highlights of the year was of course the school musical, ‘Annie Get Your Gun’. Led by the guru of musical theatre, Mr Gazard, it drew on the expertise of the Drama, Music, Dance, Technical Theatre, Design and Art Departments to create a fabulous show (if I say so myself!). The A Level Drama performances have been of an exceptionally high standard thanks to the time and energy put in by Mrs Bailey, our Head of Drama. The Music calendar of activities never ceases to amaze me; Mr Gazard, Miss Macfarlane and Mr Hartley must have taken up permanent residence in the new building to produce the number of quality ensemble performances we have seen this year. The Leavers’ concert was a celebration of our best, and if you were lucky enough to get a ticket you would have walked away understanding fully why we were awarded specialist status.

	We have welcomed the arrival of the new harpsichord which is being lovingly nurtured by Mr Robson; he will be introducing some of our able pianists to the instrument’s possibilities next year. This strengthens our bid to revive an interest in chamber music already being championed by Miss Macfarlane with her Cantorum Chamber Choir.
	The Performing Arts is thriving on every level at school and this is being extended into our community of schools and wider community. We have welcomed pupils and teachers from Danesfield, St. Peters, Holy Trinity, Spinfield and Foxes’ Piece to take part in the theatre and we hope they will continue to work with us.

We are delighted by the impact made by our theatre company in Residence on the school and the community. Mark Hartley works with us in so many different capacities, as teacher of Music Technology and of Technical Theatre and also in his capacity as co Director of Jam Theatre with his wife Jo Noel. They not only contribute to the daytime opportunities of our students here but are also responsible for keeping the Performing Arts centre alive with activities throughout the evenings and week ends. The students and adults who attend classes love what they deliver and the many musical and drama performances have created a new tier of opportunities.

You would think there would be no room for any more development in this year at school. However, we have also been very privileged to welcome Gillian Dibden as musical director of our Friends of Borlase Community Choir based at school. In just eight rehearsals Gillian prepared the choir made up of parents, teachers, students and friends of the school for a wonderful performance of the Christmas Music from Handel’s Messiah with orchestra.

As always, there is just too much to say when telling people about the arts at Borlase. I find it difficult to stop enthusing about the talent that surrounds me among both the pupils and the staff at school. I am reminded of the importance of music to the school every morning in chapel: we must be one of the few state schools that can still keep hymn- singing alive as a tradition with our own organ and organist. (Cwm Rhondda and Blaenwern are becoming particular favourites!) Singing, dancing, acting and all the performing arts are wonderful, creative forms of expression which can be enjoyed by everyone. It has been lovely seeing so many people gain pleasure from them at school this year; long may it continue.

Kay Mountfield
Deputy Head Teacher, Director of Performing Arts.
01628 816544
kmountfield@bucksgfl.org.uk / deputy2@swbgs.com