Arts | Senior School | Denstone College | Staffordshire

The Year 7 to Year 9 enjoy drama as part of their weekly curriculum and each Lent Term,  Year 8 perform to packed audiences in the Second Form House Drama Festival: The plays performed are written and directed entirely by the Lower Sixth Form; demonstrating strong Senior leadership and service through mentoring and contribution.

All three Junior School years are invited and encouraged to participate in the ‘always spectacular’ Junior School Play that takes place in May.
The Fourth Form and above have the opportunity to star in the College's School Musical, at the end of the Michaelmas term. This important event provides a wealth of experience for students who are not only interested in treading the boards, but also gives those who are developing interests in technical areas vital experience; a highlight within our co-curricular activities and Senior arts provision.

We also offer LAMDA lessons for those who wish to develop confidence in the spoken word, clarity of speech and acting skills. There is also the opportunity to take exams, which are a great way to mark achievement and raise confidence; complementing our Senior academic pathways.

Students are welcome to join the Festival of Speech and Drama Group. Here we prepare the students for the Newcastle Festival of Speech and Drama; an event that takes place in the Lent term, each year; one of many opportunities within our co-curricular activities.

Students are also offered opportunities to experience live theatre throughout the year through our extensive programme of theatre visits closely linked to, but not exclusively for, GCSE and A level students; supporting Senior academic study and enriching life in the Senior School. A small but consistent number of pupils go on to study drama or theatre–related courses in higher education.

Past Drama productions include:

• 9 to 5
• Legally Blonde
• Sister Act
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• Grease
• Les Misérables
• Jesus Christ Superstar
• Treasure Island
• Wendy and Peter Pan

There are over 250 instrumental and vocal lessons taught each week by both full time staff and a team of 18 highly qualified and experienced visiting music staff. Many students take practical and theory exams of the ABRSM and other examination boards (Trinity and Rock School) and results are consistently excellent. In recent years, several students have taken their performing beyond grade 8, achieving the ARSM Diploma in their final year at the College; supporting ambition within our Senior academic culture.

The Music Department works closely with the Drama Department in the production of Musicals and in providing music for other stage shows. In recent years, this collaboration has resulted in first class productions of Les Misérables, Jesus Christ Superstar and Grease. Music Theatre has become an increasingly popular activity within the College and several students have gone on to continue performing on stage at university and in professional companies; reflecting the strength of our Senior arts provision.

Trips and visits to concerts, opera and ballet are a vital adjunct to the weekly music programme and the Department has recently taken students to see the CBSO at Symphony Hall, a touring ballet company at the Regent Theatre and in 2020 our GCSE and A level students travelled to see Wicked in the West End. A recent performing tour to Cornwall was a great success, taking in local churches and the majestic Truro Cathedral; enriching life in the Senior School.

A Denstone creative education inspires and challenges its young people, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to participate in, experiment with, invent and create their own works of art, and design; at the heart of our Senior arts programme.

Facilities are good and include kilns, sewing machines, printing press, heat transfer facilities, photographic equipment and dark room with exposure unit within Art and CNC routers and lasers, industry standard lathes and milling machines in Design and Technology. Pupils benefit from working with a range of tools, materials, equipment and digital technologies including CAD with others being added all the time. This access enables learning opportunities to model creative and design industry approaches. Dedicated staff and technicians support pupils in their endeavours and encourage them to exhibit work in local public spaces. Work is displayed in vibrant departmental spaces, on mannequins and display shelving, and is soon to be displayed around school; contributing to life in the Senior School.

This year, the Art and Design and Technology Departments are running an exhibition of pupils’ work at both GCSE and A Level. The range and quality of pupils’ work is first-class, and the more opportunity that pupils have to see their work exhibited, the more confidence they gain in their design and art solutions; building pride and aspiration within life in the Senior School.