Visual & Performing Arts at Grey Court

Music Department
There are a wealth of extra-curricular opportunities for students at Grey Court School, including Junior and Senior Choir, Big Band, Orchestra, Band Academy and Music Theory classes. In connection with Richmond Music Trust, we offer tuition on the following instruments: flute, clarinet, saxophone, violin, viola, guitar (acoustic/electric/bass), percussion and singing.

Throughout the school year, students have opportunities to perform in front of their peers in lessons, while large-scale events enable students to perform before a public audience. Such opportunities include; the Christmas Concert, Annual School Production, Charity Concerts organised by the student body, the Summer Fete, Richmond Borough Showcase as well as important celebration events, such as the KS3 celebration evening and the Record Of Achievement Ceremony held at the end of Year 11.

Music is a popular option at GCSE level, with results improving steadily over the last 3 years from 77% - 93% (A*- C grades).

Drama Department
The main event of the school calendar in Drama is the School Production which is held annually in the Summer Term. Auditions are open to Year 7 and Year 10 students, offering a valuable opportunity for collaborative work to take place across the key stage. Drama Club is a very popular extra-curricular activity, allowing gifted and talented students to develop their acting and directing skills while extending their knowledge of the different genre covered in lessons. Students often write their own plays and perform these at showcase evenings to parents.

Drama is a popular option at GCSE, with 86% of students in Year 11 achieving A*-C grades in 2005. In Year 10, students are involved with a national initiative, ‘Theatre in Education’ (TIE) which allows students from Grey Court to work closely with Year 6 pupils as part of the primary liaison programme. The Year 11 Showcase evening provides an opportunity for GCSE students to perform their final GCSE pieces to parents.

Art & Design Department
The main event in Art & Design is the Year 11 exhibition, held in the Summer Term. This very popular event enables students to exhibit their exam pieces to a wider audience, including parents, staff and other students. Students’ Artwork is displayed around the school and changed on a regular basis.

The regular Art Club allows students in all years to develop their artistic skills and is particularly valuable for GCSE students who may need to discuss their ideas with staff. The ‘Mosaic Project’ has allowed a number of our students to work collaboratively with students from other local schools, to build a large-scale piece of Artwork for the community. Plans are also in the pipeline for students to work in connection with Orleans House Gallery and The National Portrait Gallery.