Performing Arts Scholarships

The Performing Arts Scholarship programme at SMSJ is an exciting scheme which enables our students to thrive and fully benefit from engagement with the Arts.  We hold high expectations for our scholars not only developing their area of artistic ability, but equally developing their academic and leadership skills.  It is expected that our scholars will be high quality performers on stage and excellent role models off stage, championing our school values of Wisdom, Service and Hope.

Ten percent of our secondary intake can be accepted as Performing Arts Scholars.  We offer scholarships in Music, Drama, and Dance, with the larger proportion being reserved for Music Scholars.  Students then benefit from an extensive programme covering each of the three disciplines.

We select our Scholars through an application process which includes aptitude tests during the Summer term of Year 5.  Find out more here.

Music:

Scholars receive their first year of weekly tuition on an instrument of their choice (including vocal) from the school.  They also sing in the school choir appropriate to their year group.  In addition scholars who play an orchestral instrument form part of the school orchestra.  The choirs and orchestra meet weekly.  Music Scholars have many opportunities to perform in a variety of contexts both sacred and secular.  As they progress through the school, our scholars are expected to take on responsibility for leading younger students and parts of performances to extend their musical prowess and leadership skills.  Music Scholars are expected to opt for Music GCSE as part of their continued development in their specialist area.

Drama:

Scholars receive weekly LAMDA tuition from the school, provided by The Creative Speech Company, in small groups of scholars based around their year groups.  This tuition allows them to work together creatively and improve their acting skills, as well as prepare for LAMDA exams, which they may take at their parent’s discretion.  There are also many other opportunities to perform in a variety of contexts both sacred and secular.  Drama Scholars are expected to opt for Drama GCSE as part of their continued development in their specialist area.

Dance:

Scholars form a special Dance Company which receives weekly tuition from Dance practitioners from the Royal Academy of Dance as part of the Step into Dance programme.  They can also join the other Dance Companies for their year groups, and are given many performance opportunities including the Barnet Dance Festival, Barnet Dance Competition and the annual Evening of Dance held here at SMSJ. There are also many other opportunities to perform in a variety of contexts both sacred and secular.  Dance Scholars are expected to opt for Dance GCSE as part of their continued development in their specialist area.

Whole School Productions:

There is a strong expectation that our Performing Arts Scholars take active roles in our school musicals and other whole school performing arts events in which they can support, perform, and grow as leaders of the Arts in the wider school community.