Mayville Performing Arts Prospectus

Performing Arts
at Mayville
023 9273 4847
enquiries@mayvillehighschool.net
www.mayvillehighschool.com

Mayville Academy of Performing Arts offers
GCSE and vocational qualifications at KS4.
Mayville High School has long been ahead of its time in recognising the intrinsic value
of performing arts and has a proven track record in creative excellence. In a bid to build
bridges between the arts, our Academy of Performing Arts aims to offer pupils a more
rounded education and the opportunity to build and develop their skills in each
performance area by offering a variety of courses / qualifications, including:
– GCSE
– BTEC
– RSL Level 2 Certificate

Why Mayville?
The performing arts have always been an essential
part of education at Mayville. For the last thirty
years we have been expanding our creative
arts provision, both in terms of infrastructure
and ambition.
Mayville regularly achieves success in a variety of competitions, including ISA National
Dance, Drama and Music Competitions, Springboard and Dance Live! to name a few.
Opportunities for productions and performances are regular within the school year,
with a wealth of roles for pupils to explore in preparation for production, both on stage
and backstage.
Performing arts is a part of Mayville life and all children have the opportunity to
participate and gain some of the invaluable skills offered during such participation.
Performance is encouraged on a regular basis and through this, pupils acquire skills
in teamwork and cooperation together with preparation to ‘be your best’ and a strong
work ethic to succeed. Performing arts are built into the curriculum and all pupils
at Mayville will experience a variety of performance projects designed to incorporate
the wide range of skills available to them.

We regularly stage large-scale productions, either at a local professional theatre
or by using our own facilities. There are many other performance opportunities
for our pupils such as the Annual Prizegiving Concert, Carol Service and community
performance evenings. There are timetabled assembly slots where pupils show their
developing performance skills, whilst mini concerts and showcases provide a platform
for any pupil to perform at their personal best. The KS4 Performance Evening showcases
the coursework and skills of our current and budding GCSE / Level 2 students, resulting
in performances of an extremely high standard. Participation in local community projects
has included remembrance and dockyard events, together with a number of other
projects specific to Portsmouth.
We have years of experience of participating in local festivals including the Shakespeare
Schools’ Festival. Speech and drama lessons have been taught at Mayville since 1964
and we have been a centre for LAMDA examinations in drama since 1986. Pupils also
have the opportunity to undertake 1-1 music lessons on a variety of instruments and
singing. We enter a variety of ISA National Competitions in drama, dance and music
on an annual basis.
Mayville has produced pupils who have already reached a professional level prior
to leaving the school at 16. Several have successfully auditioned for performing
arts colleges, for example Laine Theatre Arts, Bird College, Stella Mann College
of Performing Arts and Italia Conti; and have ultimately gone into professional roles
as composers, performers and leaders in their field. We also have current pupils
who already work professionally on stage and screen.
We work alongside local dance and drama schools, enabling our pupils to attend events
and festivals such as the All England Dance Festivals and the Dance World Cup, thereby
providing them with constant enrichment and furthering their training, whilst continuing
with their academic studies.

KS4 course routes are decided upon considering the cohort and can be bespoke
to our learners.
Level 2 Courses
These qualifications offer practical structured learning with the flexibility to specialise
in dance / acting / music and related performing arts industries.
The chosen pathway develops skills and/or related contextual, historical or theoretical
understanding.
As technical awards, these qualifications will equip pupils with knowledge and practical
skills focusing on the study of the creative and performing arts industry sector, together
with the acquisition of practical and technical skills.
Pupils will be encouraged to take part in performances and become involved in other
performance projects where the different performing arts are involved. This could lead
to cross-curricular opportunities between the performance arts. Increasingly, pupils
will be encouraged to organise their own performances and events whilst developing
an understanding of the promotional and technical demands involved.
Vocational assessment is flexible with units spread throughout KS4. Vocational units
enable us to develop a bespoke education and preparation for the performing arts
industry depending on our cohort.

GCSE
GCSE recognises the role of the performing arts as pupils develop their skills,
through performance, choreography and the study of professional repertoire.
These academic qualifications provide a strong theoretical base with a skills based
approach through practical components. The GCSE dance, drama and music courses
help to develop the skills and experience to prepare for the demands of AS and
A Level.
They cover skills, technique and repertoire practically and theoretically. Written
examination consists of a variety of question styles, including multiple choice, short
and extended answer. The courses are structured with components completed
throughout KS4, with the written examination completing the course.

Resources
We are proud to have two purpose-built performing arts halls: Linda Owens Hall
is our large studio theatre, equipped with barres, mirrors, sound system, a lighting rig
with digital lighting desk and concertina seating for up to 140 people. We hold many
productions, showcases and events in this space, with the ability to build large scale
sets and scenery. The Drama Studio is located within the Cottage development.
With a capacity of up to 70, this purpose built studio space is perfect for rehearsals and
more intimate performances. Both areas feature breakout spaces and changing facilities.
Our ever-expanding costume room houses a wealth of costumes available to use
for performances in classes, as well as in productions.
Charlotte West House is home to our music rooms. In the main space, pupils have
access to a wide variety of instruments, along with recording and notation software,
enabling pupils to compose and record their own music. Our practice rooms offer
private space to rehearse and participate in one to one music tuition. Most recently,
our new music media studio offers a space for pupils to develop compositions and work
on creative media projects with the latest technology.

Staff
We have an enthusiastic and motivated team of staff who are experts in their fields, with
years of experience behind them. Each with a unique approach, they inspire our pupils
to challenge themselves, both technically and in performance, to achieve excellence
within their chosen discipline. At Mayville, we nurture the individual and our performing
arts staff work closely to ensure each pupil receives the tuition they need to achieve
their personal goals.

To apply either internally or as an external pupil, or for further
information, please contact performingarts@mayvillehighschool.net
All applicants must provide a summary of any previous experience
in the performing arts.
If applying for a scholarship please be prepared to perform a solo dance / song / piece
of music in any style or a drama extract, produce a portfolio of evidence of performing
arts experience and attend an interview.

For further information, on applying for our Vocational Performing Arts Courses,
please contact: performingarts@mayvillehighschool.net
023 9273 4847
enquiries@mayvillehighschool.net
www.mayvillehighschool.com