THE ARTS

Key Stage 3
The music courses followed in Year 7, 8 and 9 are based on the British National Curriculum for Key Stage 3 and are designed to provide students with the knowledge skills to enable them to achieve their potential in music and to foster a sense of achievement in the performing arts. They are designed to enable students to develop their skills in the three main areas of Listening, Composing and Performing to both achieve their potential at Key Stage 3 Level and to prepare the students who are interested in further study for the IGCSE Music Course.

IGCSE 
Students will work to acquire a good standard of playing on their main instrument, or in singing, leading to two individual and one ensemble performances. All students must also participate in the school orchestra to gain extra ensemble experience. The orchestra rehearses once a week, working on varied programmes for large scale concerts during the year.

IB 
The Diploma Programme music course can be taken at Standard Level or Higher Level and provides an appropriate foundation for further study in music at University level or in music career pathways. It also provides an enriching and valuable course of study for students who may pursue other careers.

Throughout the year the Music Department stages several small and large scale performances. These include:

• The Winter Concert: This is our biggest concert of the year and involves the Orchestra.
• Joint Concert: Every year we work very closely with the Primary Music Department to put on a joint themed concert at the end of the Spring Term.
• Speech Day: This event rounds off our school year and involves either the string section, or the wind section of the orchestra, along with some solo performances.

The IB Diploma Programme theatre course is a multifaceted theatre-making course of study. It gives students the opportunity to make theatre as creators, designers, directors and performers. It emphasizes the importance of working both individually and collaboratively as part of an ensemble. Students become aware of their own personal and cultural perspectives. It enables them to discover and engage with different forms of theatre across time, place and culture and promotes international-mindedness.
The Shakespeare Competition from The Anglo Mexican Foundation is a programme with curricular focus. It is designed to help develop Year 13 students their language skills and dramatic talent, through the memorising and interpretation stage of both a monologue and a  Shakespeare sonnet.  Greengates has a part of this competition since 2003, winning several first places throughout these years.
 
"Grappling with the subtle artistry of Shakespeare’s language, the attuned gesture, the inferred meaning: this is what I enjoyed about the Shakespeare Competition. It was a means of self-expression, of igniting my passion for the art, but also of relishing the company of those who shared that enjoyment of this playwright’s work. No regrets!"
 
Ana V.
First place winner - IX Shakespeare Competition