2003 - 2008

NDCC First class Performing Arts facilities and resources including:   

• a 500 seat performance arena.

• a 200 seat drama studio.

• a fully equipped recording studio.

• a professional, mirrored Dance studio.

• apple mackintosh and music software.

• state of the art music technology facilities.

• one to one music tuition.

• More Able and Talented provision for music, dance and drama.

• composer in residence .

• links with the Rambert Dance Company.

• successful placements with the Royal Ballet.

• work opportunities include BBC Shakespeare Festival.

• College Arts Cafe.

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

NOTRE DAME CATHOLIC COLLEGE
RAISING STANDARDS THROUGH THE PERFORMING ARTS

The following statement preceded our successful Performing Arts College proposal. We, as a Performing Arts Department within Notre Dame Catholic College, strive to realise this Vision for the Future, believing that we can raise standards through the Performing Arts.

Our vision comprises a set of interlinked ambitions:

• To capitalize on our successful ‘Arts for All’ policy and make a significant contribution to our city as European ‘City of Culture’ in the year 2008;

• To build on our solid foundations of values and achievement and achieve further continuous measurable improvement;

• To create opportunities for those who do not currently have them and to extend these opportunities into a commitment to life-long learning;

• To encourage the ability of members of our community to express their wishes and communicate their feelings through performing and visual arts;

• To uncover potential and provide a platform for hidden talent;

• To raise levels of aspiration, extend experience and build on the rich cultural diversity which exists in our community;

• To invigorate and enhance our community through a strategy of involvement and sharing, encouraging social inclusion and removing avoidable barriers to learning;

• To establish a ‘centre of excellence’ both in the performing arts, in all its creative, technological and vocational aspects, and as a contributor to community development;

• To record a continuous improvement in all that we do, raising standards by using dance, drama and music as tools in all subject areas, thus providing a Creative Curriculum.

AIMS – THE SCHOOL CONTEXT

School Aim 1:

To raise standards of achievement in Music, Dance and Drama through the increased quality of teaching and learning.

School Aim 2:

To extend curriculum opportunities in Music, Dance and Drama, including cultural, creative, expressive and technological enrichment.

School Aim 3:

To increase take-up of, and interest in, Music, Dance and Drama courses, particularly post-16, but also including increasing the number of students taking one or more of these subjects at Key Stage 4 and beyond.

OVERALL MISSION STATEMENT

A mission to build a better future
(An extract from our Performing Arts College proposal)

The challenge

Our mission is to help to substantially improve the arts infrastructure within our local community and make a powerful contribution to the arts curriculum available to local people. Our agenda is for regeneration at all levels, both in school and outside. We wish to share our resources with our community enabling greater access to the performing arts.

Building on strength

Notre Dame Catholic College is acknowledged as a centre of excellence for the development of best practice in the Performing Arts. As such, it is an integral part of the City of Liverpool’s Excellence in Cities initiative.

The partnership route to raising attainment

In collaboration with our family of schools and the wider community, it is our mission to raise overall educational attainments and aspiration by offering wider access to Dance, Drama and Music, thereby actively engaging the attention and commitment of increasing numbers of learners and participating audiences and adding diversity to their experience. Skills which are developed through becoming involved in the performing arts have a highly positive impact on employability. Curricular and extra-curricular experiences in Music, Dance and Drama also make a powerful contribution to the development of interpersonal skills and results in increased self-confidence and self-esteem.

Arts for All and broad-ranging achievement

Governors, staff and parents are all supportive of the school’s policy of ‘Arts for All’ and its commitment to the performing arts. Data on attendance, punctuality and attitude and application to work across the curriculum indicates that involvement in the Performing Arts has had a positive impact on student motivation and enthusiasm. Consequently, staff working across the full range of disciplines support the submission of this bid, believing that it will continue to deliver higher
standards across the whole curriculum.

Supporting our community

We are fully committed to facilitating positive curriculum development within our family of schools and providing much needed performance venues, practice space and facilities for a wide range of Arts activities within the local community. Our proposed partners will expand well beyond the many local community groups, youth groups and dance groups with which collaborative work has already proved successful.