We encourage students to take part in the planning of performing arts events at Portchester, and have established a partnership group made up of staff from our local network of schools. This enables us to deliver a programme of arts events and performances each year, which serve the needs of our local and extended community.

• “Performing Arts at Portchester are lots of fun. We learn a range of performing techniques, have lots of opportunity to perform, and lessons are always interesting.” - Georgina Dawes 11D
• “Since I have been in Portchester Community School there have been a variety of great opportunities I have benefited from. One of these was performing in front of hundreds of people with the Taiko group at the Portchester Arts Festival. I have also enjoyed singing my own songs and performing in a play.” - Harriet Terrill 10H
• “Coming to a performing arts school has been a great opportunity for me. It has really given me a chance to develop my talents to the full.” - Brandon Draper 8D

We currently offer lessons on: 

Strings

Guitars

Voice

Piano

Keyboard

Brass

Woodwind

Drum kit

Steel pans

We also have a number of ensembles rehearsing on a regular basis. These include:

Choir

Steel bands

Taiko drumming

Samba

Cuban Jazz

Rock Academy

Students are given a lot of opportunity to perform in and out of school. There are regular performances in concerts, assemblies and festivals. Portchester regularly sends groups to perform in the National Festival of Music for Youth. In addition, the music department organises trips to concerts and musicals at leading theatres.

Composition is a strong feature of the department – the department has the use of a multimedia suite using Apple Mac computers. 

The music department has organised concert tours to the Isle of Wight, Spain, Italy, Germany, the Caribbean islands of Grenada and Barbados and Cape Town, South Africa.

• “Since joining the school in Year 7, the music department has offered me some life-changing experiences such as workshops with World class musicians, and a tour to South Africa with the steel orchestra” – James Miles 11B
• “Music at Portchester is very up to date and there are lots of opportunities to learn and play instruments”. Georgina Dawes 11D
• “Being at this school has given me so many amazing opportunities and experiences, the most valuable of these being to be part of the South Africa partnership we have. Through this, and lots of hard work and commitment, I was able to go on a 17 day tour with a highly skilled music group we also have here. This has changed my life in so many ways and it also means I will have a reason to stay involved in the school after I leave.” - Laura Chappell 11C
• Portchester Community School has given me some life-changing experiences from doing music GCSE two years early, to travelling to South Africa to help set up a music project in Township schools.” - Franklin Heather 10F

Web Links:

Drama within Portchester School is engaged in encouraging students to learn about a variety of theatrical styles and conventions and use this knowledge within performances.

Drama covers a range of theatrical styles, performance skills and knowledge about theatre from other cultures, times and traditions.

As a Performing Arts School, Portchester Drama department aims to enrich and broaden the cultural experiences of all students who participate in Drama in and out of lessons.

About her experiences at the Ashcroft Drama Festival:
“It was fantastic, amazing fun.” Harriet Terrill—Year 10 Drama GCSE

Dance Department

Our aim is to offer an interesting and a high quality experience throughout the dance curriculum. The delivery of all lessons has a practical focus to ensure students are engaged at a level most suitable to them, yet still challenging.

Our schemes of work are designed to provide smooth progression through Key Stage 3 to 4. Every student at Portchester Community School, regardless of experience, ability or gender, will have a positive experience in all Dance lessons over the years.

The Dance Curriculum offers the students:

• Knowledge of some dance history
• A variety of dance styles and techniques through the study of professional dance works
• A lively practical dance experience
• Development of choreographic knowledge
• Enhancement of performance skills
• Appreciation of work created by others
• Reinforcement of everyday life skills such as team work, problem solving, respecting others and working with different people
• Some Key Stage 3 modules including Rock and Roll, Musical Style, Contact Work, The Nutcracker
• Professional Pieces such as “Swansong” and “The Waterless Method of Swimming Instruction”, Street Dance and Contempory Dance.
• In Year 9’s BTEC First Certificate in Performing Arts: Dance (Edexcel), modules including: Contemporary Technique, Jazz – Musical and Pop style, Performing Dance skills and Written Portfolio
• In GCSE Performing Arts: Dance (AQA), modules including intensive choreographic workshops, enhancing technical skills in performances and understanding the theory behind dance in general and professional work.

Opportunities are given to challenge all students by offering the chance to take part in the extra curricular activities, trips or workshops in order to develop their interest and talent further.

Staff

Subject Leader for Dance: Mrs Shankland

Dance Teacher: Mrs Westley