Dance
A*-C: 95% (Target: 70%)
A*-A: 14% (Target 8%)
Drama
A*-C: 91% (Target 75%)
A*-A: 38% (Target 14%)
Music
A*-C: 93% (Target 80%)
A*-A: 17% (Target 10%)
As a Specialist School, Chorlton High School has a responsibility to deliver a high quality experience in the Arts for all of our stakeholders. Since becoming a Specialist Performing Arts College in 2002 the school has been at the cutting edge of many exciting projects, partnerships and productions that have resulted in the school being designated as a High Performing Specialist Arts College in September 2006.
The School
Chorlton High School boasts highly accomplished Dance, Drama and Music departments that have developed outstanding reputations and results to match.
We offer a wide range of qualifications in Performing Arts, including GCSE, NCFE, BTEC and a variety of other Arts courses and awards. The Visual Arts Department offer diverse courses in ceramics, 3D design and fashion design. At Year 9 all students personalize their learning in the Arts by opting to Major and Minor in two of the Arts subjects they have experienced in Years 7 and 8. In their Major area of study students accelerate their learning by completing a BTEC First Certificate qualification over their Year 9.
The educational experience at Chorlton High School is vastly enriched through the school’s commitment to bringing the Arts into the daily lives of our students. Opportunities include exposure to Masterclasses from professional actors, dancers and musicians, and participation in national Arts initiatives. Students also work alongside a number of professional Arts groups and establishments across the city including the Royal Exchange Theatre and the Royal Northern College of Music as well as working with such prestigious groups as the Ballet Rambert, Frantic Assembly & Opera North.
Within the Arts College we value the contributions our students have to make, and ensure they are given voice through a variety of activities. In particular our Arts Leaders monitor, evaluate & contribute to the Arts provision at Chorlton High School and ensure that our learners thoughts and opinions are central to the Arts ethos of the school.
Students extend their learning in the Arts, via participation in a whole host of after school activities ranging from the Gospel Choir to GYM Dance Company, resulting in regular performances at venues including the Bridgewater Hall, MEN Arena, and The Lowry.
Arts College status also brings the chance to impact on how students learn across all subject areas. Chorlton High School is a Change School for Creative Partnerships; as such we ensure that all staff and students have the opportunity to explore and experience creative approaches to teaching and learning across the Curriculum.
The Community
To develop Arts Education in the local area, our Community Arts Team, work alongside teachers in our partner Primary, Secondary & Special schools to provide an extensive range of projects and INSET opportunities in Dance, Drama and Music; last year alone saw us provide 253 sessions in Primary schools alone! This means that many of the children at the primary schools already know their Arts teachers or may have performed in the Blue Box Theatre by the time they come to the High school to continue their education.
The local community also benefits with evening, weekend and holiday classes in the Performing Arts, and the school has now become the hub of the annual Chorlton Arts Festival held at the end of May. Festival week see the Blue Box taking centre stage as an evening Arts Festival venue as well as the school offering a week of free performing arts classes and workshops to Key Stage 1 & 2 students in the daytime.
We also encourage opportunities for students and community members to engage in shared learning experiences, with local Arts companies and community members regularly making contributions to enhance the learning experience on offer to our students.
The Facilities
The Blue Box Theatre
The ‘Blue Box Theatre’ is a fantastic flexible performance space designed for the school, community and professionals with a state of the art lighting rig, sound system and multi media projection unit.
The Maurice Gibb Recording Studio
The studio, which was opened by Barry and Robin Gibb in 2004, allows young people and members of the Community to record their own music on the schools’ own recording label.
Other Arts Facilities
The Arts benefit from three drama studios, two music technology suites, a music percussion classroom, a suite of practice rooms, a dance studio, a dance rehearsal room and four Art studios.
CHORLTON HIGH SCHOOL – DEVELOPING CREATIVE, HAPPY & SUCCESSFUL LEARNERS