Hamilton Community College

The Visual & Performing Arts Faculty is a highly dynamic and progressive curriculum area of the college, comprising of the subject areas, Drama, Music (Music Technology, Art (Media and Dance are delivered as extra curricular and performance group activities). Each area has specialist subject teachers and departments, with a Head of Faculty leading this high achieving Arts Faculty. Each subject area is significantly well resourced with specialist faculties; – Drama Studio, Theatre Stage, ICT Music Room linked to midi keyboards (Cubasis, Session, Live7, Reason, Garage Band & Dance EJ software) two Band Rooms, with multi track recording facility,  Keyboard suite, Dance Studio, 2 further practice rooms & a designated Peripatetic music practice room.

The Head of Faculty is the Drama specialist - responsible for the teaching of Curriculum Drama – with further responsibilities as outlined in the appropriate job description for the Head of Visual & Performing Arts. The Visual & Performing Arts are identified as a curriculum area within the College, having their own development plan, teaching aims and objectives, and funding.
 
The Visual & Performing Arts Faculty is progressive and has high expectations of students. It has created an exciting and challenging curriculum, where we feel students respond well. We commit ourselves to a number of high quality, extra curricular productions, exhibitions, and live presentations that students can take part in. The College has become home to the – Hamilton Youth Theatre (The reputation of this group is National and Inter-National) Dancers @ Hamilton. Com, several Junior &  Senior Bands, Samba Band & Vocal Choir.

Drama is being allowed to develop as an independent subject, with its own philosophies, aims and objectives. It still however fulfils the National Curriculum requirements for English and is supportive of that curriculum. Students are taught in mixed ability Tutor Groups, each having one 60minute lesson per week in KS3. KS4 Option Drama provides students with the opportunity to take the Btec Performing Arts course which has proved to be very popular and successful.

Music - historically the primary subject within the Visual & Performing Arts, shares the common philosophies, structures and expectations for students. It has its own National Curriculum requirements and attainment targets to achieve. Students are taught in mixed ability groups, each having one 60minute lesson per week in KS3.  We currently have two KS4 Btec Music courses being delivered. We have very good accommodation and facilities, which is facilitated by a full time Faculty Technician.  There is currently in existence a wide range of Peripatetic tuition. (Vocal, Keyboard, Drum, Guitar and Bass). We are one of only a handful of colleges where this provision is provided to the students free of charge.  There is a developing trend of students forming their own Bands including Samba and traditional Rock. This is supported by the Faculty and is an increasing part of the Youth Community provision.

Dance - although recognised as part of National Curriculum Physical Education it has been developed as a Performance Art by our Youth Dance Tutor as an extra curricular activity.  A very strong Performing Arts Dance group has emerged being attended by a wide age group of students.                                             
                                                  
Art - students are taught in mixed ability groups.  Year 7, 8 & 9 have one 60 minute lesson per week  We currently have 2 x Year 10 and 2 x Year 11 Btec groups. We offer students a comprehensive range of media, both 2D and 3D – including ceramics, The schemes of work aims to develop students’ technical skills as well as their knowledge and understanding of Art & Design – historic, contemporary and of other cultures.

We are committed to providing students with extra curricular opportunities, arts activities, displays and events in the community.

We are passionate about getting the very best out of all students at both Key Stages and we truly believe and indeed have proven, that the students at Hamilton have enormous potential; talent that we continually aim to harness in order to enable their success and future options.

 The staff within the Visual & Performing Arts, are continually encouraging pupils to find value in working with other students through the Arts Process and the enrichment and experiences which we can offer. It has always been our aim to foster a conducive atmosphere for learning, where students feel secure and motivated. This sometimes demands us to break down the traditional boundaries of the Teacher / Pupil relationship. We believe that this can only result in a more relaxed, open and mature approach to learning.

The progressive development of the Faculty should be firmly based upon a firm agreement of philosophy, which is materialised through statements of intent, schemes of work and methodology of teaching.

“We believe in the holistic development of the student.”

Statement of intent:

"To facilitate opportunities through an entitlement to a range of Arts - Cultural and Physical – experiences, in which the student can develop their appreciation of participation, practice and enquiry in the Arts,."

Our Aims

• “The Faculty is committed to using the Visual & Performing Arts to help students develop co-operation, participation and the evaluation of their work.
• The student enters the Visual & Performing Arts area - Dance, Drama, Music and Media - to gain access to a range of practical experiences.
• We aim to promote the student's understanding of co-operation and working collaboratively with other students and agencies outside of the college curriculum.
• Students are continually encouraged to develop their individual skills and self-expression.
• Throughout their work, students will also be asked to look back and make decisions about their efforts and to see if improvements can be made.

We wish to create and promote the most positive and conducive environment for students to recognise their own positive achievements.