Don Valley Academy

Arts Award success at Don Valley School and Performing Arts College!

Last year 65 students achieved Bronze or Silver Arts Award Qualification at Don Valley School and Performing Arts College.

Year 9 students pictured here worked towards the Bronze qualification during their Drama lessons taking part in Drama workshops, performing during an ‘Arts Day’, researching their Arts Hero and attending various theatre trips.

6^th form students achieved a Silver Arts Award qualification through an enrichment project and set challenges in various activities including Dance, Music, Photography and Costume Design. They also passed on their skills to younger students through their leadership project

This year Arts Award continues to be a success at Don Valley with students working towards Bronze, Silver and Gold qualification. A yr9 student who is now taking Drama at GCSE said “I loved every minute of Arts Award, we went on some amazing trips and I learnt new skills in my Drama lessons, the best bit was taking part in ‘Arts Day’ sharing our skills with others.”

Miss Sheldon, Drama Teacher says “it’s a fantastic way for students to get the recognition they deserve for the work they do in their Drama lessons at KS3. This year Arts Award continues to be a success with over 100 students predicted to achieve the award in year 9 as well as 6^th form students working towards the Silver and Gold qualification.”

Arts Award is a recognised qualification, which supports young people to develop creative and leadership skills at NQF levels 1,2, and 3 run by Arts Council England and Trinity Guildhall.

3 hours per week
1 Option Block
1 x GCSE in Drama

In addition you will have the opportunity to achieve a BTEC Level 2 in Performing Arts.

Do you enjoy:
• Expressing yourself in an active and exciting way?
• Working in a group?
• Contributing your own ideas and respecting those of others?
• Exploring ideas by putting yourself in other people’s shoes?
• Playing many parts in different imaginary situations?
• Creating your own drama work?
• Looking at plays written by other people?

Have you enjoyed the Drama theatre trips this year? Would you like even more exciting opportunities to see live professional theatre?

If you have said YES to any of the above, then this GCSE Drama course is the ideal subject for you. See Mrs Atkins or Miss Sheldon for more details!

What will I learn?
If you choose Drama as a GCSE subject you will learn:
• How to develop your improvisation and acting skills to a higher level.
• How Drama is created, including all the acting and staging skills that are needed to put a piece of Drama on to the stage.
• How to create a character and play this character in a performance.
• Many skills that are highly valued in any walk of life, including teamwork and confidently presenting yourself in public.

How will I be assessed?
• Almost all assessment is practical. There are no written examinations – although you will be required to keep a written record of your practical work.
• You will explore themes, ideas and plays in a practical way and your teacher will assess how well you have done.
• You will also be required to perform in a play to a visiting examiner and an audience.

What can I do after I’ve completed the course?
Anything you want! GCSE Drama shows employers, colleges and 6th Form that you can co-operate with others, communicate confidently and present yourself in front of an audience.

What is it worth?
If you keep up to date with all your Drama work not only will you achieve a GCSE in Drama you could also achieve a BTEC level 2 in Performing Arts in year 10! Meaning two qualifications in one option block.

Drama builds self-esteem, confidence and builds skills needed in all careers. So what are you waiting for? GO FOR IT!!

As a Performing Arts College, we are proud to offer the following community classes on Saturday mornings for FREE!!

Don Valley Dinkies – A drama/performing arts class for 3-4 year olds.

Don Valley Rockers – A drumming class for 7-11 year olds.

Don Valley Mini’s – A musical mini’s class for 0-2 year olds.

Don Valley Dramatists = An adult drama group for 18+.

All classes start at 9:30am and finish at 10:30am. And remember, all are completely FREE!!

If you are interested in booking a place on any of the sessions then please contact Julie Atkins at Don Valley on 01302 781528.

Shakespeare Schools Festival

Every year Don Valley School & Performing Arts College participates in the Shakespeare Schools Festival. This is a national event that gives 11-18 year olds the chance to perform half hour Shakespeare plays in professional theatres.

In 2010, 650 schools performed in 80 theatres across the country. The partners of the Shakespeare Schools Festival are the National Theatre and the National Youth Theatre .

Our past performances include: 2003 – Romeo & Juliet, 2007 – Othello, 2008 – The Tempest, 2009 – Henry V, 2010 – A Midsummer Nights Dream.

Our last two performances have been at the acclaimed West Yorkshire Playhouse. Don Valley students were proud to see our Henry V interpretation used for the 10th anniversary festival publicity.

Please enjoy our photographs from Henry V and A Midsummer Nights Dream.