Arts College

As a Performing Arts College with an Artsmark Gold award, one of our goals is to put creativity at the heart of our learning culture. Outstanding provision in dance, drama and music enables all students to choose from a range of exciting academic and vocational courses. We are committed to stretching students of all abilities in the arts, not only the gifted and talented. The school's talented dancers are members of county based groups. A level Drama students perform regionally and nationally, including at the Edinburgh Arts Fringe Festival. Able musicians are fast tracked through GCSE and A level Music.

At the heart of our arts education is a commitment to developing students' confidence as performers through an emphasis on teaching technical skills and developing emotional maturity. Ofsted recognised "the outstanding contribution" the performing arts make to students' overall education by judging the provision and quality of education to be excellent in all three areas and one of the school's main strengths.

A varied and exciting enrichment programme in the arts complements high quality lessons. The school's dance companies Enigma and Limbs have performed at events across the region. Drama Clubs are available to lower and upper school students. There are two school orchestras; a junior and senior choir; a jazz band; and instrumental groups in brass, woodwind, percussion and strings. Annually, the school stages a Carol Service, two school musicals, a Gala Evening of Music in collaboration with our partner primary schools, and a series of half-termly arts show cases.

The school runs an extensive programme of performing arts projects in the community. A pyramid orchestra, ensemble master classes, and workshops in art, dance, drama and Shakespeare are run in our partner primary schools by JMHS staff. The our community arts officer, the school supports and works with a Youth Theatre group, The Community Choir and the Ledbury Poetry Festival. It also serves as a Music Centre for the County Music Service, providing weekly tuition and rehearsals for students from JMHS and other schools.

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