The Arts

Our current Arts courses

Guthlaxton   has a strong tradition of support for the Performing Arts, and is committed to increasing the entitlement of students to study and participate in Drama, Dance and Music.  In 1999 the College gained Arts College status under the Government Specialist Schools Initiative, and in 2003 became a specialist Performing Arts College.  As a result, activity and opportunity in the Arts increasd, not only within the College, but notably across the whole community.  In 2007 the College was awarded Arts Mark Gold for the third time in recognitiion of the work taking place, and the opportunities offered to students and pupils across the wider community.

GCSE and A Level courses in Theatre Studies, Drama, Music and Music Technology have established tradition of student entry into Higher Education to study at Drama Coleges, Music Conservatoires and Universities.  The introduction of the BTEC National Diplomas and Certificates in Performing Arts also enables students to gain places in Higher Education to study for Performing Arts Degrees.

Initiatives within the faculty have included the use of professional artists such as Metro Boulot Dodo, the 'Schidlof' and 'Brodsky' Quartets as well as major partnerships with Young Choirs, De Montfort University, the Royal Opera House, the Leicester Philharmonic Choir and the Leicesteshire Chorale.

The College musical production has become a major event in the community calendar.  Successful productions have included West Side Story, Cabaret, Grease, Return to the Forbidden Planet, Threepeny Opera, The Mikado, The Wiz and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  In 2003, the College was proud to be one of the first to perform the new schools' edition of Les Miserables.  In 2004 we staged West Side Story for the second time.  'Me and My Girl' followed in 2005, with 'Guys and Dolls' in 2006, and most recently, the sixties hit-show 'Sweet Charity' in March 2007.

Staffing

 

Mr R H Dacey, GRSM, FRCO, LRAM, ARCM, MTC       Head of Performing Arts and Head of Music

Miss A Ashwell, BA (Hons)                                                  Assistant Head of Performing Arts and Head of Drama

Miss Lloyd, BA (Hons); Miss V Hazarika, BA (Hons);     Joint Heads of Dance

Miss C Matthew  -                                                                 Dance Teacher

Mr C Hirst, BA (Hons); Miss B Haigh, BA (Hons)             Music Teachers

Mr P Ashton, BA (Hons); Mr N Human, BA (Hons); Mr J Beckwith, BA (Hons)  Drama Teachers

Mr D Kirkland                   Studio Manager/Technician

Mrs C Mumford        Department Administrator

GCSE

AS/A2

GNVQ & BTEC