Rickmansworth School - A DCSF Designated Specialist Science and Art College

Drama and Theatre Studies
Through studying Drama, pupils gain a greater sense of confidence about themselves and a greater capac- ity to express their opinions and beliefs to others. Drama is taught to all pupils at Key Stage 3 helping them to develop their self confidence, imagination, clarity of expression and communication through both improvisation and scripted work. Pupils explore practically a wide variety of theatrical styles from modern musical theatre and comedy to Shakespeare, thus stimulating an interest in a wide range of dramatic literature.

Drama is a popular course at Key Stage 4 and offers a wide range of drama and theatre experiences. Pupils learn about the history of the theatre and ex- periment with costume, make-up and masks to cre- ate innovative and exciting productions that can be both entertaining and thought provoking. The GCSE course enables pupils to develop their individual talents in lighting design, set design, playwriting, stage management and acting.

Written coursework encourages pupils to evaluate and analyse the effectiveness of their performances and those of others. A Level Drama and Theatre Studies is an option in the Sixth Form. Pupils take their studies to a more advanced level, studying a wide variety of plays and playwrights in both a practical and analytical context

Rickmansworth School is a designated Performing Arts College with a strong commitment to the Performing Arts. The Drama department runs theatre trips on a regular basis and has good contacts with both regional and national theatres, and professional theatre practitioners who visit the School to do workshops on a regular basis. Lessons take place in the two specialist Drama Studios, which are equipped with lighting and sound facilities.

The Department also makes extensive use of the Arts and Music Technology Suite to capture and edit film, and create and compose music for video. There is a huge demand for drama outside the classroom with the annual production open to all age groups.

Drama builds pupils’ self-confidence and gives them a

greater capacity to express their opinions and beliefs.

Dance

Dance has always been a popular extra-curricular subject at Rickmansworth. Dance is taught to all pupils at Key Stage 3 and is an option at Key Stage 4. GCSE Dance is a popular choice for boys and girls wanting to pursue a combination of performing arts and then take these as AS and Advanced Level.

Pupils work on different dance styles and have access to specialist teaching and a range of exciting workshops. There is a well equipped Dance Studio with barre and mirrors and a Performance Studio for dance productions. Dance can be followed in the Sixth Form at AS and Advanced Level.

Pupils following Dance have access to the Arts Technology Suite where they can edit dance videos, record and add music to dance and cut DVDs.

Music and Music Technology

Music features strongly at Rickmansworth, both as an academic study and by way of extra curricular activities. The School is fortunate in having a detached, purpose-built Music block with a suite of two large teaching rooms, a large Arts and Music Technology room, a recording studio, two further studios and four practice rooms.

The full- time teaching staff work with a music technology teacher/technician and more than 10 part-time instrumental teachers, giving tuition in all orchestral instruments, piano, guitar and singing. Music and Music Technology are taught to all pupils in the first three years and concentrate equally on listening and composing. The Arts and Music Technology room is fully equipped with computers and keyboards, and the department also has a good stock of classroom instruments as well as many orchestral instruments, including seven pianos, three clavinovas and a harpsichord. The sound recording studio contains industry standard equipment capable of mixing, editing and producing high quality recordings.

Music is offered as an optional subject in Years 10 and 11 for GCSE, which involves further study of composing, preparation for performing, and music appreciation through the study of a wide range of musical styles. AS and Advanced Levels in both Music and Music Technology are taught in the Sixth Form, and a number of pupils in recent years have gone on to music college or university to read Music. All pupils are encouraged to join in at least one of the many musical activities available, full details of which follow under the heading Extra Curricular Opportunities. There are choral and instrumental groups to suit all pupils, whatever their standard.