Extra-Curricular Activities
The department encourages performances of a tremendous variety of styles, from music from the sixteenth century to pop! Hundreds of pupils participate in an array of activities organized by the music staff, and rehearsals are organized according to set projects.
Activities include -
- Junior Girls Choir
- Outsiders Boys Group ( KS3 )
- Junior Jazz
- Junior Orchestra
- Senior Orchestra
- Senior Jazz
- Keystage 4 Jazz
- Senior Chamber Ensemble
- Senior Girls Choir
- Senior Windband
- Senior Boys Choir
- Various smaller ensembles
European tours have been organized by the department (Venice, Spain, Italy, France) to enhance cultural performing experiences, links have been made with the community as pupils so readily perform at local and prestigious venues for charity, and visiting professional performers (BBC, WNO) enjoy working links with Stanwell pupils, in organized workshops, through work experience and in concerts.
The department showcases the pupils' achievement in high profile, sell-out concerts which are held termly to appreciative audiences. The impressive Christmas concerts showcase all extra curricular work rehearsed during the Autumn Term and regularly involves over 500 pupils. Other noteworthy events include the Year 7 summer concert which involves all year 7 pupils and the year 8 whole-year production which is a joint project with drama. Another highlight of the extra-curricular programme is unbdoubtedly the senior musical. This reaches standards of excellence which are regularly praised by inspectors and professional performers. Performances to date include Little Shop of Horrors,We Will Rock You (British Schools' Premier), Jekyll and Hyde, Jesus Christ Superstar(part of the International Festival of Musical Theatre), Guys N Dolls, Cabaret, Les Miserables (premiered as part of the International Festival of Musical Theatre), Westside Story, Sweet Charity, Return to the Forbidden Planet, Godspell and Hot Mikado.
The extra-curricular programme is demanding but extremely rewarding, and is recognized widely for the standards achieved. The school has been recognized by the Welsh Secondary Schools Association for ‘Extra Curricular Performance Arts - A Significant Contribution to Excellence'.
