Arts Specialism

At Glenthorne, we believe that cultural opportunities for all students are imperative in ensuring a vibrant learning environment. At the heart of cultural education is the delivery of a high-quality curricular and extra-curricular programme in the arts. Glenthorne High School and Sixth-form are a centre of excellence in this area. At the heart of our arts provision are a group of experienced and passionate performing arts staff that provide a wealth of opportunities and resources for all students involved in the arts to strive. A programme designed specifically for students with an aptitude in the performing arts ensures that arts remain a major part of our school community. Each year 10% of our students are 'selected' in either Dance, Drama or Music. These students remain visible throughout the year and play a key role in encouraging others across the school to get involved in arts clubs and events, including the Whole School Production, IMPACT Dance Show and Music Concerts. A Sixth-form scholarship provides our older performing arts students to truly immerse themselves in the performing arts community here at Glenthorne, giving them a sense creative independence, and access to post Sixth-form opportunities. 

Our whole-school arts events are regularly the highlight of our school calendar, particularly our Whole School Production that involves over two hundred students school-wide. IMPACT Dance Show consistently demonstrates Glenthorne's 'second-to-none' provision of high quality Dance, led by Mrs Grant and the Dance team. Our Winter, Spring and Summer Music Concerts are an opportunity for our musical students to demonstrate the wide range of abilities in many different genres, from classical to rock, with ArtsOne Rock's 'House Band' regularly turning up the volume! 

Alongside this, students are given the chance to take part in workshops, discounted theatre trips, national competitions and lectures with professional artists. Many of our students secure excellent progression pathways with recent destinations including ArtsEd, Rose Bruford, The Place, Royal College of Music and The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. 

The quality and variety of our arts provision at Glenthorne ensures that our students are exposed to an excellent cultural education through the arts. 

More details about what is on offer in each performing arts department is outlined below: 

Dance

Selected Dance Students will be a member of the Junior (Year 7 and 8), Senior (Year 9 and10) or Principal (Year 11, 12 and 13) Performance Groups, whose rehearsals take place weekly after school. This gives students the opportunity to develop their performance and choreographic skills, as well their technical ability in a range of styles. The selected Dancers will be showcasing these skills in three key productions over the year; Whole School Production, IMPACT Dance Show and INSPIRE Summer Showcase. In addition, all performance groups will be have the opportunity to compete at competitions such as the London Youth games or at other performance platforms such as Battersea Arts Centre. These opportunities nurture a mature and professional attitude towards performing as a team and are also extremely fun for the students.

Music

Whether your goal is to be a performer, producer, songwriter or music business professional, studying as a Selected Music pupil will help you develop relevant skills within a challenging, supportive and creative environment. Selected Music pupils will learn a number of desirable attributes for a musician to have including creativity, motivation, confidence, reliability and an ethic of teamwork. They will be offered multiple performance opportunities including our onsite events and a range of external events. We invite our very best pupils to perform at our prestigious school events such as Year 7 Welcome Evening, Prospectus Parents Evening, Glenthorne Celebrates, Glastonthorne, Whole School Production and expect all selected pupils to be in the main Music concerts including the Winter Concert, Spring Concert, Summer Concert and Rising Stars Concert. Through participation in extra clubs such as the Orchestra, Jazz Band, ArtsOne Rocks and the Audacity Choir, and through the exceptional music curriculum, selected pupils will receive an outstanding Music education.  

Drama

Selected Drama students at Glenthorne High School will take part in ‘Spotlight’ on Tuesday lunchtimes (Year 7 and 8) and the Senior Drama Company on Fridays after school (Year 9 and 10). These students will work towards two performances throughout the year. One performance for a Christmas showcase and one performance for the annual Summer Arts Festival. Selected Drama students are all expected to be a part of the major whole school events such as the Whole School Production and the Summer Key Stage Three Play. They are also encouraged to take part in the wealth of extra-curricular clubs on offer including the highly successful ArtsOne Drama School, LAMDA club, Junior Drama Company and Actor Boys. Selected Drama students are all actively encouraged to see as much theatre as possible outside of school, taking advantage of the plethora of reduced price tickets available for young people in London. This will supplement the exciting theatre trips and workshops they attend as part of their selected status. Overall, for a Selected Drama student, there is no where better to be to enhance their skills and enjoyment of Drama. 

If you would like more details about the Selected Student Programme at Glenthorne High School, please contact Mr David Grant, Selected Student Co-ordinator at email address: dgr@glenthorne.sutton.sch.uk or call tel. 020 8644 6307 ext. 295.