Please watch the video below to view some of the more frequently asked questions about these subjects, then scroll down to the forum below to submit any of your own questions.
Thank you for watching. If your question was not covered in the video, then please use the "add comment" button below to ask one of our teachers for help. Staff will be live on the forum from 6pm to 8pm on Friday 16th October and will then be checking for questions throughout the weekend (although response times will not be as quick). The forum will close at 4pm on Monday 19th October, after which you can email any questions to admissions@kesbath.com
For General Enquiries: The forum below is intended for subject-specific questions. If your query is more general, then please post it on the Admissions and General Enquiries forum and one of our admissions team or senior teachers will get back to you.
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Comments
Hello, I'm Mr Hume-Smith, Head of Art and Photography, and I'm looking forward to answering your questions today.
Posted by Mr E Hume-Smith, 16/10/2020 at 17:53
Do you have to have studied Art at GCSE to study Photography at A Level?
Posted by GuestK758, 16/10/2020 at 18:20
Hello, no you don't. We have a number of students who are doing A Level Photography and have not done Art GCSE.
Posted by Mr E Hume-Smith, 16/10/2020 at 18:25
Thank you.
Posted by GuestK758, 16/10/2020 at 18:32
Good evening! I am Rupert Drury, the Director of Music at King Edward's and I'm very much looking forward to answering any questions you may have.
Posted by Mr R Drury, 16/10/2020 at 18:02
I have heard about the trip to the Fringe, how does this work?
Posted by Open Day guest, 16/10/2020 at 18:21
Thank you for your question. We run a three year rotation system in the department, where we rotate School musicals and festival work. So, in an ideal world we should run a trip to the Fringe every three years. The last trip was in 2018 which was great fun and very successful, so, the next one should have been running Summer 2021. COVID has impacted on this somewhat but another trip will run as soon as restrictions allow and our scheduling gets back on track.
It is usually offered to students in Year 11 and above, who will audition to be in the company, whose size depends on the choice of play but tends to be between 12-15 students.
In addition to the Fringe trip, we run two main school plays every year, a third smaller production for a key year group - in February this year it was a Year 9 production, a duologue competition judged by a professional actor, inter form drama competitions and various theatre trips to professional productions for all year groups throughout the year.
Posted by Mrs V Stevens-Craig, 16/10/2020 at 18:39
Good evening! Welcome to our KES open evening! I am Mrs Stevens-Craig and I look forward to hearing from you!
Posted by Mrs V Stevens-Craig, 16/10/2020 at 18:21
Good evening, how much time is usually required out of lessons to rehearse for the devised and scripted etc?
Posted by GuestK703, 16/10/2020 at 18:23
When preparing for the practical units we expect students to attend a two hour rehearsal once a week. Realistically this is no longer than you would spend on an essay or piece of coursework for another subject it is just that our commitment is practical and in the space.
Our course is separated into three modules and out of school rehearsals are only required for the practical units.
We use Year 12 as a mock run of all the modules and aim to get the first Component One ( reinterpretation of a set text) completed at the end of June/July so that in Year 13 we can concentrate on the larger two modules worth 40% each and get them completed earlier in the year.
Ideally all of the practical work is completed before February half term of Year 13 ( COVID permitting) so that students can concentrate on their written exam and practical work does not impact on other subjects in the run up to A Level main exams. So, there will be no rehearsals outside of lessons from March onwards in Year 13.
In Year 12 May/June will involve rehearsals and in Year 13 Sept- Jan/Feb.
Posted by Mrs V Stevens-Craig, 16/10/2020 at 19:01
Where have students that have taken drama at A-level at KES ended up? Have any managed to get onto the stage/screen?
Posted by Guest227, 16/10/2020 at 18:31
Our A Level students have ended up in a wide range of diverse careers. We have some famous old alumni such as Bill Bailey (actor) and Jon Monie (local Bath Comedian and writer who often comes in to judge our Duologue competition).
In my time at the school we have maintained links with many students who have gone on to work in the stage and screen. Tom Payne an actor who has starred in TV Drama Waterloo Road and currently portrays Malcolm Bright in the American TV series Prodigal Son came in to run a workshop with our Year 9 students and talk to our A Level students about a career in acting. We ran a trip to the National Theatre a couple of years ago to watch one of our former students, Tim Delap, perform the lead part of Rochester in Sally Cookson's interpretation of Jane Eyre which we now use as the set text for our Component One exam at A Level. He has also been back to KES a number of times to run a film school workshop with our Year 9 students and another student from that year Andrew Steggall cast two of our students in a film production he was directing and producing.
More recent leavers Alex Prescot, returned for the opening of The Rose- our new drama purpose built drama studio and discussed some of his recent directorial ventures. We met up with Bea Udale-Smith at the Fringe who was there with a show she had produced and directed. Two other students from that year set up their own drama company which also took shows to the Fringe to rave reviews. Claire Bowman is building a name for herself on stage having recently graduated from drama school, as is Sophie Bryant.
Two recent leavers came back to help me with the musical direction of the Year 9 show Discontented Winter- Jake Hight who is building a name and reputation for himself on the rap music circuit who helped put the Shakespearian soundbites into rap segments and Louie Milton who DJed live on stage for the show.
In addition to stage we have students that have gone into TV production, podcasting, animation, casting and stage recruitment, teaching, design and make up artists to name just a few off the top of my head.
I hope this gives you a flavour of the wide ranging opportunities A Level drama opens up for you and the range of successes our students have had!
Posted by Mrs V Stevens-Craig, 16/10/2020 at 19:25
Good evening! How many of your A level students went on to study Drama after they left and where did they go? Also what kind of drama experiences did they get in the holidays? Thank you
Posted by Guest313, 16/10/2020 at 18:55
Every year differs in terms of specific numbers that go on to study drama after KES but I have always been very proud of the fact that a good percentage of our students go on to study it every year and they have always reported how well KES drama prepares them for further study.
At KES we study a wide range of practitioners, run four theatre trips a term for exam students, give a lot of support with essay structure and coursework and run critical review nights of exam work so students are familiar with a wide range of styles and contemporary practice. They know how to respond to feedback and analyse work effectively. They are confident directors and practitioners themselves and hence often go on to direct plays at University, be heavily involved with drama societies and run independent productions to festivals such as Edinburgh Fringe.
We also run an Internship programme for recent leavers who can work within the department as part of their gap year, paid work experience, where they direct or help direct the school productions, assist with running classes, run drama club and inter form competitions which gives them a wealth of experience and transferable skills to take on to University.
Students have gone to study drama at a wide range of Universities - Exeter, Manchester, Goldsmiths, Queen Mary University, Durham, Royal Holloway. We also have students that do joint honours degrees at a wide range of universities, or study English at Oxford or Cambridge then go on to do Drama School after their degree. Radio production/ media/ communications and film studies degrees are also popular choices.
Posted by Mrs V Stevens-Craig, 16/10/2020 at 19:39
Thank you any relevant experience during their time at KES eg NYT?
Posted by Guest313, 16/10/2020 at 19:47
Hello, as well as the wide range of opportunities offered at school we encourage students to audition for NYT and have had a number of successes over the years. One of our current Year 13 students was offered a place in May, we have other students who are regularly involved in TV work and lots of students are involved with the Bristol Old Vic summer school, or the YPT at the Theatre Royal Bath. It is up to individual students to seek out summer experiences and additional activities such as these but we advertise opportunities and auditions as they come up and support students with audition preparation when necessary.
Posted by Mrs V Stevens-Craig, 16/10/2020 at 19:59
Thank you, very helpful
Posted by Guest313, 16/10/2020 at 20:21
I have heard that KES has a link with Bath Phil, how does that work?
Posted by Open Day guest, 16/10/2020 at 18:39
We do have a wonderful partnership with Bath Philharmonia and it is a truly inspiring set of opportunities, unique in its breadth and provision.
We hold an annual Spring Gala Concert that is the showcase of the project in some of the most inspirational venues in Bath. (Guildhall, Assembly Rooms, The Forum).
Our 55-60 + strong KES Senior Orchestra plays alongside around 25-28 professionals from Bath Phil playing pieces together, (one of which is composed by our composer in residence!) piece separately, and Bath Phil accompany three, lucky, top KES soloists in movements from famous concertos. A wonderful stretch and challenge for our young musicians.
The educational backbone is a set of inspiring and nurturing musical opportunities that take place throughout the year.
These include:
A day of orchestral workshops with 5 Bath Philharmonia section leaders.
A series of annual masterclasses (Upper Strings / Lower Strings / Woodwind/ Brass/ Percussion) which this year included our first KES piano masterclass with BBC Young Musician of the Year Winner 2018, Lauren Zhang, who performed Sergei Rachmaninov’s famous Piano Concerto No. 3 in a KES sponsored concert with Bath Phil last November.
In fact, through our partnership, we have held special masterclasses at KES with 3 BBC Young Musician of the Year finalists and winners, Jess Gillam, Laura van der Heijden and as mentioned above, Laura, as well as the KES Senior Orchestra members meeting Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Nicola Benedetti in person in rehearsals!
We also held a new ‘performance etiquette’’ masterclass lead by Bath Phil’s leader Sophie Langdon this year.
Sophie also mentors the KES Senior Orchestra leader which allows him or her to attend many of Bath Phil's rehearsal sitting next to Sophie, and one-to-one discussions about leading orchestras.
The partnership also enables KES pupils of all ages to watch Bath Phil rehearsals and attend their concerts free of charge!
It truly is an inspirational partnership!
Posted by Mr R Drury, 16/10/2020 at 19:01
How technical is the A level Photography? Is it as free creatively as the A level Art sounds? Is there an exam? Or assignment? And what does it involve?
Posted by GuestK709, 16/10/2020 at 19:15
There are a lot of technical skills taught on the Photography A Level. From experimental darkroom techniques and how to develop a film to how to use a digital camera and set up lighting. Photoshop editing skills are also a key part of the course. It is creatively 'free' and during the course students are encouraged to develop their own project based on a theme of their choice. The course is comprised of two components - Component 1 is called the Personal Investigation and is a project that's been developed during Year 12 and into Year 13. Component 2 is the Externally Set Assignment which are questions provided by the exam board (AQA). From February to May in Year 13, students will develop a project based on one of these questions. At the end there is 15 hours of supervised time (exam), during which the final outcomes for that project are completed. Both the Art and Photography A Level require a 1000-3000 word essay that explores the first project and the artists/photographers that have been looked at.
Posted by Mr E Hume-Smith, 16/10/2020 at 19:29
How does assessment work in Art at A-Level?
Posted by Guest201, 16/10/2020 at 19:38
Hello. The Art A Level is divided into two key projects. The Personal Investigation (coursework) which runs from the beginning of Year 12 until January in Year 13 (60% of the final grade) and the Externally Set Assignment (questions set by the exam board) which runs from February until May in Year 13 (40% of the final grade). Both projects allow students to explore a range of exciting themes and develop their work by experimenting with a variety of techniques and processes. Alongside the practical work students write an essay about their work and the artists they have researched. Work completed during the course is assessed using four Assessment Objectives that cover students ability to research artists, experiment with materials and techniques, record (drawings etc), and create final outcomes. The structure of the Art and Photography A Levels are very similar and both courses offer students the chance to explore artists of their choice and express themselves creatively over the two years.
Posted by Mr E Hume-Smith, 16/10/2020 at 19:49
Thank you for your questions tonight. I will answer any other Art and Photography questions early next week.
Posted by Mr E Hume-Smith, 16/10/2020 at 20:00
What software does Music use and are compositions ever shown to an audience?
Posted by Guest330, 16/10/2020 at 19:56
We are lucky enough to have two classrooms of 15 MAC computers and we run Sibelius and Logic Software on them all. This allows pupils to tailor the composing process to their musical tastes, experience and backgrounds and often, A-Level coursework will utilise both programmes in the composition and production of pieces.
We have an exciting professional composing partnership with SOUNDWORKS and host annual composers' workshops with them for both our A-Level and GCSE pupils where their pieces are performed by an ensemble of professional players and commented on by lectures/professional composers.
We have on a good many occasions used our KES Contemporary ensemble made up of invited top KES musicians to perform A-Level works in our Gala and Extravaganza Concert.
Posted by Mr R Drury, 16/10/2020 at 20:08
Thank you for your questions and interest this evening. I hope I have managed to answer your queries.
Posted by Mrs V Stevens-Craig, 16/10/2020 at 20:10
Thank you for your questions this evening. Please do feel free to post more if you would like additional information, and I will endeavour to respond early next week. Best wishes, Rupert Drury
Posted by Mr R Drury, 16/10/2020 at 20:11