Redesignation 2010 Earlier this term we successfully reapplied for our Performing Arts Status. This involved bringing together all the work done by the members of the Performing Arts department over the past few years. The fact that the document ran to over 20 pages is a clear indication of the huge amount that has happened at the college and the opportunities open to the students. Curriculum "There was a real positive buzz and an excitement for learning in Music, Dance and Drama." Visiting Head Teacher - (Feb 2010) From September 2010, all Key Stage 3 students will have an hour a week of Dance, Drama & Music, surpassing the offer at most schools. The skills they learn in these three subjects have an impact in all their subjects, whether it be teamwork, deadlines, improved confidence in performing/speaking in front of others or receiving and giving advice as they hone their performances. A student survey in May 2010 indicated that a significant number of Key Stage 3 students feel that taking a Performing Arts subject has made them more confident (Yr7 - 90%, Yr8 - 84%, Yr9 - 70%). At Key Stage 4, in their four option choices, students are able to choose any three of four Performing Arts options, including the new Creative and Media Diploma, a double option. The numbers selecting Performing Arts subjects at Key Stage 4 has risen steadily over the past few years and over half of our present Yr9 have chosen a Performing Arts option for next year. This means that our Performing Arts uptake is well above the National Average, particularly in Dance and Music (Drama is just as popular here but is nationally a more popular subject). The Performing Arts are keen to support their colleagues in other areas of the curriculum; cross-curricular projects include a Particle Dance (Yr7 Science), World War 2 Drama unit (History) and work to support GCSE English. It is our aim to expand these in the future. Extra-Curricular "Students particularly enjoy the regular performances of plays, the orchestra...." OFSTED 2009 A wide range of extra-curricular activities are available to all students, both at lunchtimes and after-school, regardless of their option choices. Indeed, a number of students take advantage of these opportunities to supplement study in other subjects. Regular College performances give students the opportunity to showcase their talents; this year has seen a Christmas and Summer Concert, ‘Scary Play', Dance Fever, String, woodwind and brass soiree as well as GCSE performances in Dance and Drama, not to mention the increasingly successful ‘MVC's got Talent'. Backstage enthusiasts can also get involved with Sound and Light or the MVC Stage Crew. These performances can involve a significant number of students; a survey in May (prior to the Summer Concert & MVC's got Talent) indicated high participation rates: 64% of Yr7, 56% of Yr8 and 66% of Yr9 students having taken part in at least one concert or production in the past academic year. Additional opportunities involving outside agencies arise during the year, from the Red Cross ‘Dance for Life', through collaboration with the Tanzanian choir ‘Upendo' to a 3 day residency with a professional Theatre company ‘Gomito'. There are even opportunities during the holidays - Dance Leaders this Easter and the regular Summer Academy. The Wider Community Over the past three years MVC Performing Arts staff have run or been involved with 26 events with 8 different primary schools. These will usually involve our staff visiting primaries and running workshops over a period of weeks or primary students coming to Melbourn to use the facilities here, eg the Steel Pans or Music computers. The work done, involving both our students and the wider community, by our Arts Development Manager, Kirstin Bicknell, is nothing short of outstanding. Attendance at local arts events has increased from 806 in 2006 to 13055 in 2008/9. Groups she has worked with include Melbourn Singers, Melbourn Camera Club, Meldreth writers and the Melbourn parish plan. She supports local artists and the development of local arts related groups including advice with constitutions, marketing and fundraising and has worked with fetes and festivals to develop their arts and music programmes. In June 2010 the college also hosted the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust Eastern conference on Performing Arts and ran a session on Community Provision. The Future We hope to continue to cater for the expanding number of students who wish to study Performing Arts at Key Stage 4, as well as continuing to use the Performing Arts to improve standards across the curriculum by expanding the range of cross-curricular collaboration. It is hoped that the new Faculty structure and work of the teacher in charge of the Specialism will help support this aim. MVC is a BRIT school partner; staff from both schools have visited the other to look at facilities and courses. Meetings have taken place between subject teachers and managers in order to share elements of good practice in teaching & learning, resource procurement and consider cross-curricular projects and creativity in lessons. Over the next year it is planned to extend these links to involve students visiting the BRIT school to look at Key Stage 4 and 5 experiences. The Artavan project has seen artists working with Yr7 & Yr9 MVC students to create artwork which was exhibited at local fetes. Dance will be involved at a later date to culminate in an event in May 2011. In addition, the Arts Development Manager is project managing a local public art project, Unpicked Meadow based in the village's nature reserve. Currently the project is linking with our Art department but a Dance strand will be developed later this year. An Outside View: Our Redesignation application was discussed with and judged by an external moderator. Their summary comment on the application, following our meeting, is given below: "Melbourn has clearly demonstrated excellence in all principles. The school has a real understanding of the community responsibility the specialism brings and the positive impact it can make beyond the school. Results in the specialist subjects have improved, as have the number of students opting for performing arts related subjects. Performing Arts permeates the life of the school. Many students who have chosen not to follow a GCSE course continue their studies in Music, Dance and Drama through the wealth of extra curricular opportunities. The excellent support given by the Arts Development Manager gives the school a wealth of resources to enhance teaching and learning. There are excellent opportunities for the whole community to be involved in the Arts. It was a pleasure to celebrate the excellent opportunities the specialism has brought to this village community". Mr Holmes Assistant Warden | 
