Personal development is a very important feature of the Art course. A broad and balanced course is taught and a wide range of disciplines covered including the core subjects of painting and drawing, printmaking, computer graphics, photography , three-dimensional modelling and working with textiles. Different types of craft work are also undertaken using a variety of mixed mediums. 

Schemes of work are designed to nurture the pupils ’ creative and technical abilities and Critical Studies is an integral part of all projects.  Pupils are inspired by Art and Design from different  cultures and different historical periods which helps broaden their understanding and appreciation of the world around them.

Recent projects have included making the brightly coloured skull sculptures like those used in the Mexican Day of the Dead festival and creating fabric designs inspired by  William Morris.

Some of our previous students have designed and made clothes inspired by theatrical design and contemporary designers such as Vivienne Westwood.

 

If you enjoy drama, you'll love it at Priory School.  We're an active, busy and award-winning department, performing several times a year.  Recent productions have included The Diary of Anne Frank, Hard to Swallow and Romeo and Juliet. Our productions have won highly commended for the past three years at The Columba Trophy Awards, and last year one of our year 11 girls won ‘The Edgar Andrews Trophy’ for outstanding individual performance. 

In recent years we have also collaborated with the music department to stage some superb musicals and we regularly take part in the Arts Showcase, highlighting our pupils talents in music, dance drama and art.

The drama department also offers Speech as an extra-curricular activity and we have a successful track record in the LAMDA exams.  Many jobs require presentation skills as standard.  Where do you gain the confidence and skill to stand in front of a group of people and deliver a presentation? Speech lessons of course.  A good speaker is a good leader and for many shy students a welcome increase in self-confidence is just one of the benefits of speech lessons.

 

Music, both as a curriculum subject and an extra-curricular activity thrives at Priory, playing an important role in the life of the school. At Key Stage 3 all pupils study the four key areas of performing, composing, listening and appraising, whilst at Key Stage 4, the subject is also a popular choice – more than 25% of  the current year 10 chose to follow the GCSE course. Our results are impressive - in 2006, 2007 and 2008 100% of pupils gained A* -C grades at GCSE.

With numerous ensembles, including an orchestra, jazz band, rock group and choir, all pupils are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular activities, regardless of their ability. Approximately 15 performances take place each year. Recent highlights have included a Choir tour to Paris in February 2008 and a whole school production of  'Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat'  in March 2007 -  in which over 120 pupils from both the Prep and Senior Schools were  involved and The Wizard of Oz in 2009.

Well over 100 pupils currently receive instrumental lessons from our team of part-time peripatetic teachers and we offer all of our year 7 pupils the unique and exciting opportunity of a term's free instrumental tuition. Regular 'Afternoon Tea and Music' concerts also allow pupils to share their progress with others and to develop their performing skills.

Many of our pupils are entered for ABRSM graded examinations in which we have an excellent record of success, with some pupils also playing in regional and national ensembles.                                                               

                                                       

  

We offer students regular dance lessons through a hugely varied programme that caters for all interests. Classes are taught both during lunchtime and after school where students can learn many disciplines including street dance, classical ballet and traditional Indian dance.

Our Dance Academy produces an annual dance production offering students choreographing opportunities.  Pupils also take part in many other school performances. There is also the opportunity for older students to assist as coaches and work towards Equity status.

GCSE Dance is offered outside curriculum hours for those students with a keen interest in dance, enabling them to gain an extra GCSE.

In addition to two hours of quality PE per week, pupils also have the opportunity to improve performance in the school's enrichment programme and play competitive fixtures against other independent and state schools.

Through all competitive games we follow the ethos of:

“Win with Grace and Lose with Dignity”

 

Our aim in Physical Education is to challenge every pupil depending on their needs and ability. We work to give all pupils a positive experience of physical activity, so they will continue living a healthy and active lifestyle after school. 

Pupils in Physical Education cover six week units covering all the content set out in the National Curriculum. These six week units cover: ability set techniques specific to the sport, an opportunity to apply these techniques in a competitive situation, an opportunity to develop mental and physical determination and evaluation activities which allow pupils to analyse their own and others techniques.

Boys over the course of the year will complete units in:

• Cross-country, Football, Gymnastics, Rugby, Dance, Badminton, Basketball, Athletics, Cricket, Tennis and Softball.

Girls over the course of the year will complete units in:

• Fitness, Netball, Gymnastics, Football, Dance, Badminton, Basketball, Athletics, Tennis and Rounders.

Pupils will also get the opportunity to participate in “International Games”, this is a two-week period before Christmas where pupils will experience games from other cultures and countries, for example:

• Handball / Table Tennis / Gaelic Football / Lacrosse / Hockey / Volleyball.

The facilities include a gymnasium, tennis and netball courts, football pitches and the newly opened Priory Mile Course. The facilities are enhanced by links with The Edgbaston Priory Club, The Birmingham University Munrow Centre and the Birmingham Sports Centre.

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