Performing Arts

Drama, music, and public speaking

Windrush Valley Prep School Oxfordshire – Performing Arts

Windrush Valley Prep School Oxfordshire has a rich heritage in the performing arts. Drama, music, and public speaking are one of the foundational elements of building self-esteem, self-confidence, and creative expression.

School productions

Our annual school productions are universally recognised for their high standard of production and performance. Young children begin their acting career with the traditional nativity in the local church, supported by the cast of the whole school. As well as performing, children are regulatory involved in the production of stage props and back-stage logistics. Older children in Year 3 and above enjoy performing in a full stage production each Easter in a major whole school production of a popular musical. In addition to school productions, all pupils regularly play in the school band, perform in musicals on stage, compete in public speaking competitions and sing in the choir.

Music

All children have the opportunity to learn to play at least one musical instrument of choice and have the opportunity to play in the school band. By the time children leave school they will have achieved good grades in the Royal School for Music examinations, sometimes with more than one instrument. Musical instrument lessons are available in wind, brass, piano and percussion. The Chipping Norton Music Festival is an annual, week long, celebration of local musical and artistic talent. Each year the Windrush Valley Private School Oxfordshire band receives high acclaim from the Festival judges for the high quality of its performance. Individual children demonstrate their skill and artistry in the poetry and reading sections and our choir always ‘sings its socks off’ to the audience’s obvious delight.

English Speaking Board (ESB)

Each year children from Year 2 upwards are entered for the prestigious ESB competitions. Pupils recite a poem from memory, read a passage from a favourite book and prepare a talk on a topic of personal interest. Additionally, all children have to demonstrate their ability to listen to each other’s presentation and ask sensible and pertinent questions at the end. Each year children from Windrush Valley Private School Oxfordshire receive well deserved high praise and marks for their performances.