• Slideshow - The core values of Downend School are simple; they are focused on a sense of belonging, a belief that all students have it within themselves to be effective learners and that we can extend this learning beyond the reach of school and into the future
  • Slideshow - The core values of Downend School are simple; they are focused on a sense of belonging, a belief that all students have it within themselves to be effective learners and that we can extend this learning beyond the reach of school and into the future
  • Slideshow - The core values of Downend School are simple; they are focused on a sense of belonging, a belief that all students have it within themselves to be effective learners and that we can extend this learning beyond the reach of school and into the future
  • Slideshow - The core values of Downend School are simple; they are focused on a sense of belonging, a belief that all students have it within themselves to be effective learners and that we can extend this learning beyond the reach of school and into the future
  • Slideshow - The core values of Downend School are simple; they are focused on a sense of belonging, a belief that all students have it within themselves to be effective learners and that we can extend this learning beyond the reach of school and into the future
  • Slideshow - The core values of Downend School are simple; they are focused on a sense of belonging, a belief that all students have it within themselves to be effective learners and that we can extend this learning beyond the reach of school and into the future
  • Slideshow - The core values of Downend School are simple; they are focused on a sense of belonging, a belief that all students have it within themselves to be effective learners and that we can extend this learning beyond the reach of school and into the future
  • Slideshow - The core values of Downend School are simple; they are focused on a sense of belonging, a belief that all students have it within themselves to be effective learners and that we can extend this learning beyond the reach of school and into the future
  • Slideshow - The core values of Downend School are simple; they are focused on a sense of belonging, a belief that all students have it within themselves to be effective learners and that we can extend this learning beyond the reach of school and into the future

Arts

The Arts Faculty comprises Art, Music and Drama. Students across all the years are encouraged to absorb themselves in a variety of creative and artistic projects which will help promote confidence, creativity and personal fulfilment. The Arts Faculty is comprised of staff who are experts in their particular field. They are here to nurture and encourage everyone, bringing out the very best in each student. Standards in all three subjects are extremely high and many Downend students go on to study their chosen field at college or university.

Arts Faculty Staff List

Drama

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Drama is a vital part of school life at Downend. All students study Drama in their first three years and have the option to take it at GCSE, Diploma and A-Level. There are two well equipped drama teaching spaces within the school, one of which functions as a working theatre. The department has a video editing suite for film-making and a computer-controlled lighting desk, and programmable lighting units, for stage work. The main sound system is a 1.5 kw PA system with a ten channel desk, broadcast quality CD mixing unit and a foldback system. Students have the opportunity to use this equipment whilst learning and developing their acting skills.

Students take part in, and have the opportunity to see, a wide range of performance work both at Downend and at other venues. We have strong links with the Bristol Old Vic and our students have performed there on many occasions. Downend students have also performed at the Tobacco Factory, Circomedia and at other partnership schools. The Drama department also runs Shakespeare workshops for local junior schools. We have excellent relationships with local theatre companies, particularly Travelling Light, who we have worked with for nearly 15 years. A number of our ex-students have gone on to find employed work in film, theatre and television. However, whether or not they choose a career in performing arts or the entertainment industry, all our students who successfully complete a drama course at Downend learn essential transferable skills including communication, team-work and project management skills.

Drama at Downend


The department is staffed by people who take theatre extremely seriously and believe that all young people, regardless of their skill level, should have the opportunity to experience high quality drama. The Head of Department - Mr J Voake, BA Hons Cultural Studies, PGCE, Cert. Historical Studies - has taught drama for over 20 years and has been a GCSE Senior Examiner and an A-Level Practical Examiner. He has written a number of plays and films, some in collaboration with the English Department. Mr Voake has taken part in professional directing courses with the National Theatre, has directed work for the Wellcome Trust (exploring science through drama) and has staged over 20 major productions. He has also been an Education Consultant for the Bristol Old Vic.

Miss C Pester (BA joint Hons, Drama & Theatre Studies and French, PGCE Maitrise Francais Langue Etrangere) has a varied background in the entertainment industry. She has worked as a television presenter, toured a ground-breaking production of "Bouncers" to the Edinburgh Festival and was appointed as Youth Entertainment Director with the biggest cruise line in the world. Since coming to Downend she has completed specialist courses in Physical Theatre, Commedia dell’Arte, Stage Make-up, Stage Fighting, Dance, Lighting, Acting & Directing, and Monologue Writing. She co-directed Downend’s original production "My Space" and recently directed a major whole-school production of "Lord of the Flies". Both shows sold out. .

Music

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Music

The specially designed music suite comprises three purpose-built classrooms, four sound-proofed practice rooms, a music technology room and a departmental office. The classrooms benefit from having wireless internet access, interactive white-boards and quality stereo equipment for delivering listening-based lessons. Each classroom is equipped with a large number of Yamaha sequencing keyboards, a wealth of tuned and untuned percussion and a large collection of CDs and text books for all Key Stages.

The Music Technology room contains Apple Mac computers including a G5 and a professional studio-standard mixing desk. Software includes Logic Pro, Sibelius, Auralia and Dance e-jay . All equipment is security coded and alarmed using the latest security methods.

The department also owns a wealth of traditional orchestral ⁄ band instruments which some students can hire as part of their instrumental tuition. These are regularly maintained and replaced as and when required. Music for band and choir is regularly purchased or hired for concerts and the already large repertoire is currently growing bigger by the year.

Music Newsletter

Latest newsletter - Spring 2012


Samba Workshop in the Bristol Evening Post

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School CD Recordings

2006 - Take it from the top 2001 - Encore 1998 - Gaudeamus

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