The Performing Arts carry a high profile at St Michael’s, welcomed and respected by governors, staff, parents and pupils as fundamental to ‘whole’ education where spiritual growth and the nurturing of feeling are essential to enabling young people to experience ‘life in all its fullness’, able to cope with, and respond positively to, their role in today’s society.
It is the aim of a passionate and talented staff to foster an appreciation of the arts both through timetabled study and the wider curriculum. An engaging programme of multi-cultural arts, cross-curricular outreach and Christian Values Enrichment days promotes an energetic, creative ethos across the school. We intend that, through high quality arts presentations - worship, showcases, concerts, major productions and other school events - all pupils are able to experience the arts and recognise them as a vehicle for raising moral, social and political issues; the arts challenge them to reflect and inspires them as participant or audience to respond; we want them to see that the arts gives them a voice and that they know that their voice counts. Furthermore, we encourage our pupils to see the arts as a means of self-expression, of self-realisation and an outlet for emotion, so important in a world that places so many pressures on young shoulders.
Ultimately, we aim for all our pupils to leave St Michael’s with a real appreciation that the arts offer a universal language through which a vision of the human experience can be shared, and that, through the arts, they can add their own voice to the chorus of mankind.
Drama
The Drama department at St Michael’s school is dedicated to developing the teamwork, confidence and communication skills of every pupil in the school.
Pupils interchange dance and drama lessons in year seven, and have one lesson a week in year eight and nine. Through collaboration they are given an initial understanding of improvisation skills, playwriting strategies, scripted performance and performance support skills. Following this in Years 10 and 11 pupils, who choose to, can continue to develop these skills in more depth in preparation for their GCSE in Drama, and from 2024 their Btec technical award in Performing Arts.
The Drama Department at St Michael’s additionally offers many opportunities for pupils who enjoy drama and wish to extend their skills.
There is a Drama club running within the department almost every lunch time. These clubs are run by the student directors within our pupil appointed Drama Council. We play games, work on improvisation skills and perform short plays.
The Drama club’s skills are frequently called upon to support school worships through readings and dramatic performances. We also collaborate with other members of the performing arts team to produce highly acclaimed work for the Shakespeare for School Festival, and for the biennial school musical.
We warmly welcome anyone who wishes to get involved and get creative, and if that is you we really look forward to seeing you soon.
Drama Learning Schemes